Police charge 27-year-old East Melbourne man with driving stolen Toyota LandCruiser through Northland shopping centre
An East Melbourne man has been charged with driving a stolen Toyota LandCruiser through Northland shopping centre, the development coming as a fire at Myer sent the Preston mall into its second lockdown in less than 24 hours.
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Northland shopping centre has been sent back into lockdown for the second time in less than 24 hours.
Shoppers at the centre in Preston in Melbourne’s northeast were ordered to evacuate on Thursday morning after fire broke out at the Myer department store.
The incident came as police charged a 27-year-old man for allegedly driving a stolen Toyota LandCruiser through the centre on Wednesday afternoon, forcing a mother and her child to jump out of the way of the speeding vehicle which came within metres of other terrified shoppers.
‘Cursed’: Northland sent back into lockdown
In the latest drama at one of Melbourne’s biggest shopping malls, an “emergency” warning sounded over the centre’s speakers at about 10:40am Thursday.
Roller doors were slammed shut and people flooded to the exits after an electrical fire broke out in Myer.
Paramedics treated people for injuries at the scene, with the shopping centre reopening around 11am.
Reservoir local Anthony McKnight, who witnessed both the car chase and the fire, said he believed Northland was “cursed”.
“There’s too much drama here — machetes, car’s driving through, fire, what’s next?” he said.
“I feel sorry for the kids, they were terrified.”
Man charged over drive-through madness
Police have charged an East Melbourne man with reckless conduct endangering life, theft of motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage.
He was also charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving.
He was due to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon.
The charges follow police swooping on a home on Hoddle St and arresting the man about 8.30am Thursday.
The man is accused of using an electronic key reprogramming tool to steal the LandCruiser without the vehicle’s keys.
“An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized during the arrest,” a police statement said.
Acting deputy commissioner of regional operations David Clayton said he was shocked by the footage of the vehicle speeding through the centre.
“I can understand the concern in the community if that is what a person is prepared to do,” he said on Thursday.
“I was horrified — people just going about their business and have a vehicle drive through a shopping centre is terrifying.”
LandCruiser found in Northcote
Police recovered the white 4WD found dumped on Beavers Rd in Northcote about 5.10pm on Wednesday, about 6km away from Northland.
Detectives on Thursday morning confirmed it was the same vehicle used in the shopping centre attack.
It is believed the LandCruiser had been stolen from a home on King St in Ivanhoe East on June 2.
Beavers Rd in Northcote is largely a residential street with a handful of factories at the western end.
Allan: ‘Senseless and stupid act’
Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday called the chaotic incident the “most senseless and stupid act”.
“For any shopper, any retail worker who would have been present yesterday to witness that just stupid, senseless act, my thoughts are with them,” she said.
She, however, stopped short of supporting further security measures, such as bollards, outside shopping centres.
“I think it’s best to wait to get the advice from Victoria Police about this particular incident,” she said.
The chaos came less than a month after two gangs of youths fought with machetes in the middle of the shopping centre in front terrified shoppers.
LandCruiser speeds through Northland
On Wednesday, staff and customers at Northland were forced to take cover as the allegedly stolen Toyota barrelled through the shopping centre at a speed which would have caused serious injury or death to anyone in its way.
A shopper said it “sounded like gunshots” as a LandCruiser smashed its way through one entrance, drove past shops and then slammed through doors at the other end of the mall — up-ending a safety bollard — as the driver made his escape.
Superintendent Kelly Lawson said police were responding to reports of a stolen car parked at the centre about 4pm when they tried to block the vehicle and arrest the driver inside it.
The driver of the LandCruiser is accused of ramming a police patrol vehicle twice before heading off through the shopping centre.
“The driver took evasive action, and unfortunately the only place he could go was to ram the police vehicle … and then took off and drove through the shopping centre and exited at the first available opportunity,” Superintendent Lawson said.
Superintendent Lawson said the alleged driver’s actions were not intended to harm anyone inside the shopping complex.
She said police had “very good” footage of the driver and it was only a matter of time before he was caught.
She urged the driver to hand himself in.
No one was struck or injured during the chaos, however one woman was treated for shock.
Wayne O’Connor was enjoying his daily coffee inside the shopping centre at Jamaica Blue when the vehicle crashed through the entrance.
Mr O’Connor said he came “face-to-face” with the driver.
He said the man appeared to make an effort to dodge pedestrians.
“He took out all the doors all the way through, but he didn’t hit anybody and he actually stopped for a little kid,” Mr O’Connor said.
“He stopped for the children and he stopped at Kmart and looked to make sure no one was walking across the centre.
“I don’t think he wanted to hurt anybody … (but) if he had’ve hit the pedal quick, he would have definitely got me and the table at Jamaica Blue.”
Mr O’Connor said it was “fortunate” the complex wasn’t busier at the time.
Liz Deka was shopping at the time the LandCruiser came through Northland’s doors.
Ms Deka said she heard some crashing and sirens outside and thought someone must have been caught in the shopping centre car park.
“Then as things seemed to be going quiet the car suddenly ploughed through the entrance heading towards Target,” Ms Deka said.
If the driver had come through just minutes earlier it could have been a much more tragic tale, she said.
“The car came ploughing through the children’s ride area which thankfully had just closed for the day,” she said.
After the initial shock wore off Ms Deka said she realised how serious the situation was and how a lot of other shoppers still appeared unaware of what was unfolding.
She said she hid behind a pylon with some other shoppers as they watched the car come to a stop, then speed off again.
“There weren’t too many people near the entrance but plenty of people down the walkways and it seemed no one had really realised what was happening,” she said.
“For a brief second they came to a stop a bit less than half way down the walkway, at least one security guard was nearby so the car took off again.
“This time going faster towards lots of unaware shoppers.
“As that was happening several ladies near me started panicking even more so I ushered them into the closest store, Just Cuts and the salon went into lockdown mode.”
Another woman, who was working in the centre at the time of the incident, said she heard the commotion from the other side of the complex.
“I could hear people screaming and suddenly everyone was locking down,” she said.
One Facebook commenter said they were locked in a store following the incident, where they said a car drove “right through” the complex.
“If you’re planning on attending Northland this afternoon … don’t,” the post read.
“Currently in lockdown and at least some areas are being evacuated (I’m locked in a store).
“A car smashed through a door and went right through the shopping centre,” it said.
Vicinity Group, which manages the shopping centre, said their thoughts were with those affected.
The latest drama comes less than a month after shoppers were terrified by a gang confrontation at Northland.
About 10 youths fought with machetes, forcing the complex into lockdown. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old both on bail were allegedly involved.
The incident prompted the Allan government to fast-track a sales ban on machetes and other long-edged blades.
Anyone with information about Wednesday’s incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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