Police have described offenders who cut down a fire danger warning sign in northern Victoria amid the bushfire emergency as "reckless and dangerous".
Unknown thieves in the town of Koonoomoo cut down the automated sign on the corner of Goulburn Valley Highway and Greens Lane between 8am and 1pm yesterday.
They stole the solar battery from the installation before leaving the damage behind.
LIVE UPDATES: Extreme weather grips Australia
The sign has an estimated value of $60,000, but more importantly, alerts the community to the fire safety danger ratings in the area.
Yesterday's fire safety rating was set to high in Koonoomoo and surrounding areas, with total fire bans in other areas of the state.
Multiple bushfires are burning out of control in Victoria today.
READ MORE: Thousand-kilometre stretch of Queensland on alert as tropical low lingers at sea
Detective Acting Sergeant Leah Booth said the thieves' actions had placed the whole community in potential danger.
"To damage a sign that alerts the community to the fire danger rating is completely reckless and dangerous," she said.
"These signs are in place to make sure people who are in the area are aware of the fire danger safety rating to abide by the restrictions and act if needed.
"You are not only cutting down and damaging a sign, but you are also potentially putting the wider community at risk."
Any witnesses, anyone with vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential online report.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.