Overview
- Victoria Police say offenders felled the automated sign at Goulburn Valley Highway and Greens Lane in Koonoomoo between 8am and 1pm and stole its solar battery.
- Detective Acting Sergeant Leah Booth condemned the act as reckless and dangerous, citing the risk to residents who rely on daily fire danger ratings.
- The sign, valued at about $60,000, remains disabled after the theft, removing a local source of public fire safety information.
- Officers have opened an investigation and urged anyone with information or footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via a confidential online report.
- The theft coincided with total fire bans, an out-of-control blaze near Longwood that triggered emergency warnings, and forecasts of mid‑40C heat, dry thunderstorms, and extreme to catastrophic fire danger in coming days.