Stolen vehicle ploughs into Melbourne shopping centre

Emergency services are at a major shopping centre in suburban Melbourne after a stolen vehicle crashed into the complex to escape police.

A stolen vehicle has driven through a Melbourne shopping centre as it tried avoid police.

Ambulance and police are on the scene at the Northland Shopping Centre on Murray Road, Preston after the terrifying incident at 4pm on Wednesday.

A woman named Tanya said she had been locked down in a Kmart on Wednesday afternoon.

“It sounded like gunshots, but it was a car,” she said.

“Some girls (in the store) saw it and they put the gates down straight away.”

A stolen LandCruiser has driven through Northland shopping centre in Preston sparking a major emergency response. Picture: 7News

Shoppers at Northland Shopping Centre ran for safety as the car drove the centre. Picture: Josie Hayden

Tanya told 3AW Drive up to 70 people were barricaded into the store with her.

Victoria Police said they attended the centre after being alerted to a stolen white LandCruiser, outside the shopping centre.

Police Superintendent Kelly Lawson said the driver sped into the shopping centre after police attempted to block his vehicle in.

“He has taken evasive action and got away. Unfortunately that was the only escape route available for the car at the time,” she said.

“It was purely a means to get away from the police.”

9News reported shoppers described “hearing screams” as the vehicle drove “at speed” through the shopping centre.

Northland has gone into lockdown amid reports of a car driving through the shopping centre. Picture: Josie Hayden

Northland has gone into lockdown amid reports of a car driving through the shopping centre. Picture: Josie Hayden

The centre was evacuated and all shops were closed.

One woman is being treated at the scene for shock, and no injuries have been reported at this stage.

The vehicle left the shopping centre and was last seen travelling towards Wood Street, and currently remains outstanding.

The incident marks the second time in nearly a month that Northland Shopping Centre has been forced into lockdown.

Last month, a brawl involving the use of machetes resulted in the evacuation of the shopping centre and the passing of a sweeping anti-machete ban by the Victorian government.