Smoke at Northland Shopping Centre triggers evacuation just one day after stolen car crashed through entrance to evade police
Customers at a Melbourne shopping centre have been evacuated on the same day a man was arrested, after an allegedly stolen car sped through the doors of the same centre, just a day prior.
Emergency crews arrived at Northland Shopping Centre about 10.30am on Thursday, following reports of smoke emitting from shops.
The centre was plunged into evacuation as firefighters attended the scene and discovered an electrical light producing smoke.
Firefighters and police are currently on scene.
The incident comes just hours after police arrested a 27-year-old man in relation to an allegedly stolen Toyota Land Cruiser smashing through the centre on Wednesday afternoon, sparking mass panic and chaos amongst shoppers.
Victoria Police officers were made aware of the allegedly stolen vehicle by security at the Murray Road shopping centre about 4.02pm.
The driver was reportedly shopping inside the centre before returning to the car.
Within five minutes police arrived at the scene and attempted to block in the Landcruiser, in the carpark about 4.07pm.
The driver then took evasive action to avoid police and drove through the middle of the busy shopping centre.
The incident triggered a major emergency response and stores went into lockdown, as terrified shoppers watched the ordeal unfold.
'Thankfully, no one was struck by the car and there are no reported injuries,' police said in a statement.
Officers later located the stolen Landcruiser dumped in Beavers Road in Northcote about 5.10pm.
Following investigations, police arrested a 27-year-old man at a Hoddle Street address in East Melbourne about 8.30am on Thursday.
According to Victoria Police, the vehicle was stolen from an address on King Street in Ivanhoe East at the beginning of the month.
"It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Landcruiser without the vehicle's keys," police wrote in a statement.
"An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized during the arrest.
"The man will be interviewed by detectives."
No charges have yet been laid.
Shoppers took to social media to share their accounts of the incident on Wednesday, with one post warning people to avoid Northland centre.
"If you're planning on attending Northland this afternoon don't, currently in lock down 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," one shopper wrote on Facebook.
"I saw the car drive through and lucky no one was hit from this exit, I can't speak to the rest of the incident. It sped off very quickly," another said.
This is the second time Northland Shopping Centre has been forced into lockdown due to a dangerous event.
Just three weeks ago, panic spread through the centre as as a fight broke out 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.'
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