Authorities say that man suspected of stealing a Toyota Land Cruiser in Australia managed to escape police by driving the nearly three-ton SUV through a shopping mall. According to a Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) report, the driver is still at large as of Wedneday.
The incident occurred at the Northland Shopping Center in Victoria, Australia on June 18 around 4 p.m. local time. According to police, the cops cornered the suspect in the stolen 200-Series Land Cruiser outside of the mall. However, the driver apparently wasn’t giving up so easily; he rammed a police vehicle multiple times, according to authorities, and then drove into the mall.
A video posted by 9 News Australia captured the chaotic scene from that point. In the clip, you can see the white Land Cruiser barreling through the mall as stunned shoppers look on. When the suspect arrives at the mall doors, he simply plows right through them and over a bollard on the other side; you can see a woman and child narrowly escaping the path of the vehicle when it crashes through the doors.
One person was treated at the scene for shock, and two other people were assessed but did not need treatment, a local ambulance service told ABC. Victoria Police superintendent Kelly Lawson stated to the news outlet that the police have good footage of what the suspect looks like, and they expect it is only a matter of time before an arrest is made.
Despite its high price, the Toyota Land Cruiser is extremely popular in Australia. In 2024, it was the third best-selling large SUV in the country. Unfortunately, it is also a favorite target for those who steal cars, as well; in 2024, it was the most stolen vehicle in the state of Queensland, and in Victoria, it was the 10th most popular target for thieves.
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