Zac Honig said all he had left was a wheelbarrow that wasn't in the ute at the time.

He said his partner heard the Toyota LandCruiser start about 12.30am on Friday and instantly knew something unusual was happening.

"My missus came running out to me thinking, 'Where is he going?" Mr Honig said. 

But he hadn't moved. Someone else had to have started the ute.

"I straight away grabbed the car keys," Mr Honig said. 

But it was too late.

"They got out of here pretty fast," Mr Honig said. 

There were three toolboxes inside the ute. Mr Honig said one of the toolboxes was large and had a sticker of a redback spider on it. Two smaller toolboxes were across the end of the tray.

Inside were his power tools, his radio... everything.

Mr Honig said he started buying his equipment eight years ago.

"It has taken this long to build up all my tools," he said. 

He didn't even have a hammer to bring with him to work when his boss picked him up on Friday morning.

"I was on the broom all day," Mr Honig said. 

"It's pretty hard at work now. I'm pretty useless without my power tools."

He said his boss, who owned the vehicle, had been supportive and understanding.

"He's more worried about my tools than he is about the car," Mr Honig said. 

The 23-year-old, who works in the building industry, was hopeful the tools and the vehicle could be found and returned. 

The ute is white and bears the branding of a business in the building industry.

Police are investigating the theft, which happened not far from the Bendigo Police Station.

Anyone with information is urged to call the station on 5448 1300 or make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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