Police have charged a man after it is alleged a stolen white Toyota Landcruiser drove through a shopping centre in Preston to avoid police yesterday.
Officers were alerted to an allegedly stolen vehicle by shopping centre security at the Murray Road shopping centre about 4.02pm on Wednesday 18 June.
Police swiftly responded within five minutes and attempted to block in the Landcruiser, in the carpark about 4.07pm.
The Landcruiser allegedly took evasive action to avoid police and drove through the middle of the shopping centre.
Thankfully, no one was struck by the car and there are no reported injuries.
Police did not discharge their firearms at any stage of the incident.
Officers located the allegedly stolen Landcruiser dumped in Northcote about 5.10pm.
It is alleged an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Landcruiser from a King Street in Ivanhoe East on 2 June
Investigators arrested a 27-year-old East Melbourne man at a Hoddle Street address in East Melbourne about 8.30am this morning.
The man was 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 whilst disqualified
He will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.
