Detectives urged residents of the area to lock their cars, saying the offender specifically targeted the Macedon Ranges because of the high number of vehicles left unlocked with keys and valuables inside.

The 30-year-old Melbourne man has been charged with theft-related offences over the incidents in March and April. He is expected to appear at the Sunshine Magistrates' Court.

Related content: Lock your cars, police urge, after cars rifled near Castlemaine

Macedon Ranges Crime Investigation Unit has urged people to lock their cars, and avoid leaving valuables inside, in response to the incident.

Detective Senior Constable Matt Trist said often theft from vehicles took place when people left bags, wallets or car keys inside.

Detective Senior Constable Trist said the incidents served as a timely reminder for people to make sure they took their personal belongings out of the car, especially their car keys.

"These people will try every car in the street, so it's the law of averages for them," he said.

"If we have a higher percentage of people not locking their cars, we're going to have a higher percentage of stuff stolen.

"They won't just try one street, they'll try the whole area. It might just be a few cars in the whole street that happened to have stuff [inside]."

Detective Senior Constable Trist urged anyone who saw anything suspicious taking place to call triple zero, so police could come and check it out.

He said he did not know whether there was any connection with an incident near Castlemaine in April, during which a series of cars were rifled.

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