A woman has been placed on a good behaviour bond after she and an ex-partner filed a false stolen vehicle report with the police.
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Tara Mitchell, 28, appeared at Ararat Magistrates' Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to the false report in 2015.
The court heard in November 2015 Mitchell and her ex-partner were moving to Perth and were selling belongings to assist the move.
One of the items the couple failed to sell was a white Ford Falcon.
At around 2pm on November 13, 2015, the Ford Falcon was set on fire at a dried-out salt lake next to the intersection of Stavely and Maroona-Glenthompson Roads.
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At 6pm the following day, Mitchell's ex-partner reported the vehicle had been stolen to officers at the Willaura Police Station.
During the police investigation, the couple made admissions to being at the location during the car fire.
Police also matched shoe prints made at the scene of the fire to Mitchell and her ex-partner.
The pair were arrested and interviewed at Ararat Police Station, where they were unable to explain why their footprints matched the impressions at the scene.
Mitchell also told police it was a "complete coincidence" the two were at the location of the incident when the car was burning.
Magistrate Lance Martin was unwilling to offer Mitchell an early plea entitlement due to a previous failure to appear at the court for the matter.
Mr Martin placed Mitchell on a 12-month good behaviour bond without recording a conviction.
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