UPDATE
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Thursday
10.15pm
Police captured Beechworth escapee Billy Sperling in Geelong on Thursday night.
Fugitive Taskforce arrested the 25-year-old without incident at 7.45pm.
Thomas Smith and Geoffrey Pennell were still on the run.
Police believe Pennell may have been in the Warrnambool area but could not confirm a suspected sighting.
A blue 1988 Mercedes sedan with registration 1G13BT stolen from Beechworth-Everton Road about 3.20am on Wednesday is believed to be linked to the escape.
Anyone with information is urged to contact triple-0.
1.30pm
Warrnambool police officers are continuing a manhunt for jail escapee Geoffrey Pennell after he was believed to be sighted in the city earlier today.
Mr Pennell lives in Camperdown and committed his latest offending, including an aggravated burglary, in his home town.
He escaped from Beechworth prison overnight Tuesday with two other men.
Police received a report Mr Pennell was sighted in Warrnambool early Thursday morning and have been conducting an extensive search ever since.
Camperdown police office have also been keeping a close eye on addresses he is known to frequent in the town.
12.37pm
Premier Daniel Andrews said the opposition’s ‘loose talk’ and ‘politicking’ wasn’t contribution to the Beechworth escapees being caught.
“The fact of the matter is I will let Corrections Victoria and Victoria Police to provide you with updates as to the three people not accounted for at Beechworth,” he said.
Mr Andrews faced questions about the security of Beechworth Corrections Facility during a visit to Wodonga today for a regional jobs announcement.
He said the opposition had four years in power and had achieved little.
10.00am
Shadow minister for corrections Ed O’Donohue said the Beechworth escape highlights a justice system in crisis.
Mr O’Donohue said Daniel Andrews had lost control with every aspect of the justice system in crisis.
“Under Daniel Andrews, we’ve had four part time Corrections Ministers in the last 18 months who simply aren’t up to the job,” he said.
“Under Daniel Andrews the number of prisoner escapes is up, reoffending is up and we have a justice system that fails to deter or rehabilitate criminals.”
The comments come ahead of Premier Daniel Andrews visit to the Border today.
8.30am
Warrnambool police are looking into the possible sighting of a jail escapee.
Officers at the Warrnambool police station have just received the report and are currently coordinating efforts to try and confirm the sighting.
Police members are conducting searches throughout the city.
Geoffrey Pennell, one of the three men who absconded from Beechworth Correctional Centre lived in Camperdown, an hour from Warrnambool.
Police have not released the identity of the man they are looking for in Warrnambool.
Wednesday
6.05pm
Three men remain on the run after reportedly escaping through a window of the Beechworth Correctional Centre.
Prisoners Billy Sperling, 25, Thomas Smith, 27, and Geoffrey Pennell, 34 were reported missing early on Wednesday and are believed to have escaped between 10.30pm and 12.30am.
Police were also appealing for information about a 1988 Blue Mercedes sedan stolen from Beechworth-Everton Road about 3.20am on Wednesday morning.
2.30pm
Wangaratta Detective Senior Sergeant Garry Barton speaking to media about the absconders.
Police have asked any with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and not to approach the men.
12.38pm
Corrections Victoria have confirmed the escape of three prisoners from minimum-security Beechworth Correctional Centre.
Police were notified immediately after the prisoners - aged 25, 27 and 34 - were discovered missing early this morning.
Corrections Victoria is assisting police to locate the offenders as quickly as possible.
Beechworth is a minimum-security prison farm for low-risk offenders, many of whom are nearing the end of their sentence and preparing to transition into the community.
12.20pm
Victoria Police are searching for three men who escaped Beechworth Correctional facility.
A spokesperson said Billy Sperling, 25, Thomas Smith, 27, and Geoffrey Pennell, 34, escaped from the minimum-security facility overnight.
Police have released information on each man:
Sperling is serving time for property, traffic, assault and drug-related offences.
He is described as Caucasian with brown eyes, a medium build and 178cm tall.
Smith is serving time for traffic, property, drug and damage-related offences.
He is described as Caucasian with green eyes, a medium build and about 187cm tall.
Pennell is serving time for burglary, theft, drug, traffic and damage-related offences.
He is described as Caucasian with blue/grey eyes, a thin build and about 178cm tall.
MORE TO COME.