Suspect charged after driving through busy shopping centre to evade police
A man has been charged after allegedly driving a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser through a popular shopping centre to evade police.
The 27-year-old man was arrested at 8.30am on June 19 after investigators tracked him to a home on Hoddle Street in Melbourne's inner east.
At 4pm on June 18, security at Northland shopping centre, in Preston, Melbourne, alerted police to an allegedly stolen four-wheel-drive in the car park.
Police were at the car park within five minutes and attempted to block the car in, but the 27-year-old driver allegedly evaded officers by smashing through the middle of the shopping centre.
"It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle," police said.
No one was physically injured or struck by the Land Cruiser, but one woman was treated for shock at the scene.
Officers did not fire their weapons at any stage of the pursuit, Victoria Police said.
The Land Cruiser was recovered from Beavers Road in Northcote after it was allegedly dumped by the driver.
Police believe the car was stolen from a home on King Street in Ivanhoe East on June 2.
"It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Land Cruiser without the vehicle's keys," police said.
An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized from the Hoddle Street home during the arrest, police said.
The man was charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage.
Anyone with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A man has been charged after allegedly driving a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser through a popular shopping centre to evade police.
The 27-year-old man was arrested at 8.30am on June 19 after investigators tracked him to a home on Hoddle Street in Melbourne's inner east.
At 4pm on June 18, security at Northland shopping centre, in Preston, Melbourne, alerted police to an allegedly stolen four-wheel-drive in the car park.
Police were at the car park within five minutes and attempted to block the car in, but the 27-year-old driver allegedly evaded officers by smashing through the middle of the shopping centre.
"It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle," police said.
No one was physically injured or struck by the Land Cruiser, but one woman was treated for shock at the scene.
Officers did not fire their weapons at any stage of the pursuit, Victoria Police said.
The Land Cruiser was recovered from Beavers Road in Northcote after it was allegedly dumped by the driver.
Police believe the car was stolen from a home on King Street in Ivanhoe East on June 2.
"It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Land Cruiser without the vehicle's keys," police said.
An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized from the Hoddle Street home during the arrest, police said.
The man was charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage.
Anyone with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A man has been charged after allegedly driving a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser through a popular shopping centre to evade police.
The 27-year-old man was arrested at 8.30am on June 19 after investigators tracked him to a home on Hoddle Street in Melbourne's inner east.
At 4pm on June 18, security at Northland shopping centre, in Preston, Melbourne, alerted police to an allegedly stolen four-wheel-drive in the car park.
Police were at the car park within five minutes and attempted to block the car in, but the 27-year-old driver allegedly evaded officers by smashing through the middle of the shopping centre.
"It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle," police said.
No one was physically injured or struck by the Land Cruiser, but one woman was treated for shock at the scene.
Officers did not fire their weapons at any stage of the pursuit, Victoria Police said.
The Land Cruiser was recovered from Beavers Road in Northcote after it was allegedly dumped by the driver.
Police believe the car was stolen from a home on King Street in Ivanhoe East on June 2.
"It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Land Cruiser without the vehicle's keys," police said.
An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized from the Hoddle Street home during the arrest, police said.
The man was charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage.
Anyone with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A man has been charged after allegedly driving a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser through a popular shopping centre to evade police.
The 27-year-old man was arrested at 8.30am on June 19 after investigators tracked him to a home on Hoddle Street in Melbourne's inner east.
At 4pm on June 18, security at Northland shopping centre, in Preston, Melbourne, alerted police to an allegedly stolen four-wheel-drive in the car park.
Police were at the car park within five minutes and attempted to block the car in, but the 27-year-old driver allegedly evaded officers by smashing through the middle of the shopping centre.
"It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle," police said.
No one was physically injured or struck by the Land Cruiser, but one woman was treated for shock at the scene.
Officers did not fire their weapons at any stage of the pursuit, Victoria Police said.
The Land Cruiser was recovered from Beavers Road in Northcote after it was allegedly dumped by the driver.
Police believe the car was stolen from a home on King Street in Ivanhoe East on June 2.
"It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Land Cruiser without the vehicle's keys," police said.
An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized from the Hoddle Street home during the arrest, police said.
The man was charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage.
Anyone with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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