"Amateur" thieves spent almost two hours stripping a government car in a residential Melbourne street overnight.

The inexperienced pair did not realise they pulled up in front of security cameras that were recording their every move

The crime was carried out on a quiet street in Carrum Downs at 3am Sunday.

The video captured a car slowing down and turning off its lights as it droves past a late-model Holden Calais.

View photos The thieves stopped and cut their lights when they spotted the car. Source: 7 News More

View photos They hopped out in the dead of night. Source: 7 News More

Two men got out. One acted as a lookout as the other got to work only pausing to hide when cars drove past.

Neighbour Quinton Garlick told 7 News "it was surprising how quiet they were".

Using a jack, the thief slid off the wheels one by one, leaving the car to hit the ground

View photos The thieves tripped the wheels from the government car. Source: 7 News More

View photos Cameras captued the whole act. Source: 7 News More

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