Dangerous criminal missing in Victoria

A dangerous criminal required to wear a satellite tracking device disappeared "within minutes" of taking it off in Victoria.

Andrew Darling, 42, was last detected about 2.30am on Sunday at a minimum security correctional facility in Ararat.

Victoria's Corrections Commissioner Jan Shuard said staff got the alert about the tracking device being removed "immediately".

"They received the alert, the staff immediately attended the unit within a couple of minutes," Ms Shuard told Fairfax radio on Monday.

Searchers found the tracking device but not its former wearer.

Darling escaped from Corella Place, a facility for offenders who have completed a prison sentence but are deemed an unacceptable risk to the community.

Ms Shuard said the tracking devices are difficult to take off.

"It is locked on, but of course these things can be cut off with some effort," she said.

Darling is described as Caucasian, about 176cm tall and of medium build. He has blue eyes, fair-coloured and close-cropped hair, and a fair complexion.

He has both his ears pierced and tattoos on his right lower leg, back and arms.

He may be wearing camouflage-coloured clothing.

People are urged to call police on triple-zero if they see him.