Shoppers evacuated from Northland Shopping Centre a day after allegedly stolen car ploughed through complex

Shoppers have been evacuated from a Melbourne shopping centre less than a day after an allegedly stolen car ploughed through the complex.

Shoppers have been forced to evacuate from a Melbourne shopping centre less than a day after an allegedly stolen car ploughed through the complex.

Emergency crews were again called to Northland Shopping Centre at about 10.30am on Thursday, following reports of a fire and smoke billowing from Myer.

“Firefighters arrived on scene within six minutes to find an electrical light producing smoke,” a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman told NewsWire.

A Northland Shopping Centre spokesperson told NewsWire an electrical fire was sparked inside the store, which triggered the evacuation.

“The centre remains open, however Myer will remain closed for a short period,” they said.

Shoppers have been evacuated from a Melbourne shopping centre after smoke engulfed the complex. Picture: Facebook

Firefighters and police are on the scene.

Smoke was seen billowing from Myer as shoppers left the centre, as loud sirens rang out amid orders for everyone to evacuate.

“Emergency, evacuate now,” the speaker sounded as staff shut the shop doors and people headed for the exits.

A shopper wrote online she was “smelling lots of smoke”.

“We’ve all been evacuated,” she said. “Third incident in three weeks, we’re used to it now.”

Police have released footage of the arrest of a man accused of driving a stolen car through Northland Shopping Centre on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: VIC Police

Man charged after allegedly driving stolen car through shopping centre

It comes only a few hours after a man was arrested in connection with an allegedly stolen SUV that sped through the shopping centre on Wednesday.

He has since been arrested and charged with several offences.

Chaos broke out as the white Toyota LandCruiser ploughed through the complex just after 4pm, sparking a major emergency response.

Police allege the LandCruiser was trying to evade officers at the time, after they earlier tried to block the car at a park.

Footage circulated widely online shows the car speeding through the shopping centre, smashing through the doors as shoppers huddled inside stores.

“Thankfully, no one was struck by the car and there are no reported injuries,” police said in a statement.

A stolen LandCruiser has driven through Northland shopping centre in Preston sparking a major emergency response. Picture: 9 News

Police later discovered the vehicle dumped on Beavers Road in Northcote about 5.10pm the same day. They allege it was stolen from Ivanhoe East on June 2, using an “electronic key reprogramming tool”.

The shopping centre incident sparked an overnight manhunt for anyone involved.

Police arrested a 27-year-old East Melbourne man at a Hoddle St address at about 8.30am on Thursday.

Footage released by Victoria Police showed the man’s arrest at the East Melbourne property.

Flanked by police, the accused was dressed in a pair of tracksuit pants, a sweatshirt and sneakers as he was escorted in handcuffs down Hoddle St in East Melbourne on Thursday morning.

“An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized during the arrest,” police said.

The man was charged by police on Thursday afternoon.

He has been charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of motor vehicle, hand stolen goods, drive while disqualified and criminal damage.

He will appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police have arrested a man believed to have stolen the white SUV. Picture: 7News

Shoppers recount horror scenes as car speeds through shopping centre
Witnesses have recalled their terror during the shopping centre incident, saying stores forced their shutters closed as the car sped through.

Merchandiser Tanya Nava told Today she was working in Kmart when the gates were pulled down.

“Everyone was just in a panic,” she said.

“A young girl runs up to me and she goes, ‘Oh, there’s a car in the shopping centre’. And we just all went ‘oh my god’, and then everyone was just freaking out.”

Staff put the customers to the back of the shop as the incident unfolded outside, the sound of the commotion echoing through the centre.

“It was like we heard gunshots, but it was just this car ramming through the shopping centre,” she said.

The car sped pat the shops. Picture: 7NEWS

On Wednesday afternoon, a witness who was “locked in a store” during the incident warned others of the speeding vehicle.

“If (you’re) planning on attending Northland this afternoon don’t,” she wrote. “A car smashed through a door and went right through the shopping centre.”

Another woman recalled seeing the car “quickly” speeding through the centre.

“I saw the car drive through and lucky no one was hit from this exit,” she wrote online.

The car drove through the shopping centre. Picture: 9 News

The horror incident comes three weeks after the centre was plunged into lockdown due to what police allege was a fight between machete-wielding teens.

Northland Shopping Centre confirmed it would continue to operate as normal on Thursday.

“Following yesterday’s incident, we confirm that our stores are open and trading as usual today,” a statement read.

“We continue to work with the Victorian Police, with increased security and police presence in centre over the coming days.”

The centre also offered support to anyone affected by the incident.

“We understand the incident that took place at our centre was distressing, and we want to reassure our community that we are taking this matter seriously,” the statement read.

Shopping centre management said it would have extra team members and an increased security presence around the centre.

Originally published as Shoppers evacuated from Northland Shopping Centre a day after allegedly stolen car ploughed through complex