A white Toyota LandCruiser has driven through Northland Shopping Centre, Preston to evade police.
It is understood the vehicle, driven by an unknown male, entered via Murray Road on the eastern side near Darebin Creek, about 4pm and exited via Wood Street, taking out bollards to do so.
Police said officers located the stolen vehicle, a white Landcruiser, and attempted to block it before the male driver rammed a police vehicle several times and drove off through the shopping centre.
“[They’ve] Driven down the middle of the shopping centre,” a caller told Ali Moore on ABC Radio Melbourne.
Another ABC Radio Melbourne talkback caller, Paul, said he was on his way to the shopping centre to pick up his wife, who works there.
“I’m standing literally at the point where the car came through and there’s police here now taking photos and so forth,” he said.
He said he believed the vehicle travelled through sets of glass doors and near a children’s ride.
“Then it’s basically continued through the shopping centre, down the corridor and out the other end.
“How on Earth they didn’t hit someone is a miracle, because there’s still a lot of people here,” Paul told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“I just heard a bunch of people screaming, and then I looked out the window and the car just flew past,” Bridget Scicluna, a worker inside the shopping centre, said.
A former police officer who frequents Northalnd told ABC Radio Melbourne that “I see things go on here all the time.
“They [Northland] need to ramp up security,” she said.
Victoria Police superintendent Kelly Lawson said the driver “drove through the shopping centre and exited at the first available opportunity”.
“It wasn’t a targeted attack on anyone here at the shopping centre,” she said.
“It was purely a means to get away from the police at that time.
“It would have been very scary for people involved, but thankfully no one was hurt.”
Police said the incident was “not a targeted attack”.
“It was purely a means to get away from the police at that time,” Victoria Police Superintendent Kelly Lawson said on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident to took place despite increases in police presence and security within Northland Shopping Centre following other recent incidents at the shopping centre.
Ambulance Victoria confirmed they attended to two people who did not require transport to hospital. No further injuries were reported.
Police stated that one person was treated at the scene for shock.
As at 6.15am Thursday, June 19, police are still searching for the Landcruiser and the male driver and urging the offender to hand themselves in.
More to come. This report will be updated as information comes to hand.
This report was first published Wednesday, June 18 at 5.03pm and updated at 5.24pm, 5.39pm, 6.10pm, 6.38pm, 7pm & Thurday, June 19 at 6.15am
