Remember when shopping centres felt safe? A 4WD just crashed through this one
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Unusual scenes unfolded in suburban Melbourne, leaving bystanders stunned and police scrambling to respond.
What began as a routine report of a stolen vehicle soon turned into a dramatic and chaotic situation in a busy public space.
What followed was a dangerous chain of events that authorities say could have ended much worse.
An alleged car thief left chaos in his wake after a wild afternoon in Melbourne’s north ended with shattered glass, stunned shoppers and a police pursuit through a packed retail centre.
Police had been alerted just after 4:00 pm to reports of a stolen white Toyota LandCruiser parked outside Northland Shopping Centre in Preston. But what unfolded next was far from routine.
Officers attempted to block in the vehicle and arrest the driver, but instead, the man allegedly rammed a police vehicle multiple times before taking off—through the middle of the shopping centre.
Witnesses were left rattled, with many fearing the worst as the situation escalated.
‘It sounded like gunshots,’ one person shared.
Another witness recalled the commotion, saying: ‘I just heard people yelling and crying.’
A third witness added, ‘We were just trying to make sure everyone was fine, there was no one that was hit.’
Video footage showed the 4WD smashing through a set of glass doors on one side of Northland, then crashing through another exit at the opposite end—nearly flattening a bollard as it made its escape.
Remarkably, no one was injured during the mayhem. Paramedics treated two people at the scene, including a woman who was in shock.
It was later revealed that the LandCruiser had been reported stolen from an address in Ivanhoe East on 2 June. The vehicle was discovered abandoned on Beavers Road in Northcote just after 5:00 pm—about an hour after the chaos at the shopping centre.
Following overnight investigations, police located and arrested a 27-year-old East Melbourne man the next morning. They also seized an electronic key reprogramming device, which they believe was used to steal the car without the original keys.
He had not been charged at the time, and police confirmed they were not seeking any other suspects in relation to the incident.
A spokesperson from Vicinity Centres, the operator of Northland Shopping Centre, confirmed that the centre was not placed into lockdown during the ordeal.
‘While we are taking this matter very seriously, the centre was not locked down and is open and trading,’ the spokesperson said.
‘To support ongoing police investigations, two entry points from the car park and some tenancies have been temporarily closed. The safety and wellbeing of our customer and community is our top priority.’
Despite the disruption, the shopping centre remained open under normal trading hours while police remained on site.
One shopper expressed concern over the string of violent incidents in the area. ‘Not long ago, there was the big machete attack and now this, it’s just scary,’ they said.
That earlier event—an armed brawl involving machetes—had already triggered a statewide crackdown, leading to a ban on the sale of such weapons across Victoria.
Now, with this latest high-speed rampage through a retail hub, authorities are facing fresh questions about public safety in Melbourne’s shopping precincts.
It’s one thing to read about it—but seeing the footage is another story entirely.
If you’ve ever felt uneasy about how quickly things can turn in a place that’s meant to feel safe, this clip is worth a watch.
Catch the full video below and let us know what you think.
Source: Youtube/9 News Australia
With the rise in bold daylight crimes like this one, do you feel our shopping centres are becoming less safe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at the brave response of an Aussie reporter who kept calm under gunfire—something that reminded many of us how quickly the unexpected can unfold.
For those who’ve lived through decades of change and challenge, stories like these highlight the importance of staying alert in everyday situations.
If this recent shopping centre incident left you shaken, that report is well worth a read too.
Read more: ‘I’m a bit sore, but I’m okay’: This Aussie reporter didn’t back down when the bullets flew
What began as a routine report of a stolen vehicle soon turned into a dramatic and chaotic situation in a busy public space.
What followed was a dangerous chain of events that authorities say could have ended much worse.
An alleged car thief left chaos in his wake after a wild afternoon in Melbourne’s north ended with shattered glass, stunned shoppers and a police pursuit through a packed retail centre.
Police had been alerted just after 4:00 pm to reports of a stolen white Toyota LandCruiser parked outside Northland Shopping Centre in Preston. But what unfolded next was far from routine.
Officers attempted to block in the vehicle and arrest the driver, but instead, the man allegedly rammed a police vehicle multiple times before taking off—through the middle of the shopping centre.
Stolen 4WD smashes through Melbourne shopping centre. Image source: Youtube/9 News Australia
Witnesses were left rattled, with many fearing the worst as the situation escalated.
‘It sounded like gunshots,’ one person shared.
Another witness recalled the commotion, saying: ‘I just heard people yelling and crying.’
A third witness added, ‘We were just trying to make sure everyone was fine, there was no one that was hit.’
Video footage showed the 4WD smashing through a set of glass doors on one side of Northland, then crashing through another exit at the opposite end—nearly flattening a bollard as it made its escape.
Remarkably, no one was injured during the mayhem. Paramedics treated two people at the scene, including a woman who was in shock.
It was later revealed that the LandCruiser had been reported stolen from an address in Ivanhoe East on 2 June. The vehicle was discovered abandoned on Beavers Road in Northcote just after 5:00 pm—about an hour after the chaos at the shopping centre.
Following overnight investigations, police located and arrested a 27-year-old East Melbourne man the next morning. They also seized an electronic key reprogramming device, which they believe was used to steal the car without the original keys.
He had not been charged at the time, and police confirmed they were not seeking any other suspects in relation to the incident.
A spokesperson from Vicinity Centres, the operator of Northland Shopping Centre, confirmed that the centre was not placed into lockdown during the ordeal.
‘While we are taking this matter very seriously, the centre was not locked down and is open and trading,’ the spokesperson said.
‘To support ongoing police investigations, two entry points from the car park and some tenancies have been temporarily closed. The safety and wellbeing of our customer and community is our top priority.’
Despite the disruption, the shopping centre remained open under normal trading hours while police remained on site.
One shopper expressed concern over the string of violent incidents in the area. ‘Not long ago, there was the big machete attack and now this, it’s just scary,’ they said.
That earlier event—an armed brawl involving machetes—had already triggered a statewide crackdown, leading to a ban on the sale of such weapons across Victoria.
Now, with this latest high-speed rampage through a retail hub, authorities are facing fresh questions about public safety in Melbourne’s shopping precincts.
It’s one thing to read about it—but seeing the footage is another story entirely.
If you’ve ever felt uneasy about how quickly things can turn in a place that’s meant to feel safe, this clip is worth a watch.
Catch the full video below and let us know what you think.
Source: Youtube/9 News Australia
With the rise in bold daylight crimes like this one, do you feel our shopping centres are becoming less safe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at the brave response of an Aussie reporter who kept calm under gunfire—something that reminded many of us how quickly the unexpected can unfold.
For those who’ve lived through decades of change and challenge, stories like these highlight the importance of staying alert in everyday situations.
If this recent shopping centre incident left you shaken, that report is well worth a read too.
Read more: ‘I’m a bit sore, but I’m okay’: This Aussie reporter didn’t back down when the bullets flew
