The incident began when police were called to reports of a stolen car outside Northland Shopping Centre in Preston about 4pm, Superintendent Kelly Lawson told media this evening.

After locating the stolen Landcruiser parked at the centre, officers attempted to block the vehicle in and arrest the driver. The driver then allegedly rammed the police car “multiple times” before driving through the middle of the shopping centre in an attempt to flee.

Shoppers described hearing screaming as the Landcruiser allegedly drove at-speed through the centre.

“I just heard people yelling and crying,” a witness told 9News.

Remarkably, no one was struck by the car.

Paramedics assessed two people at the scene, including a woman who was treated for shock.

The car was captured on video smashing through another set of glass doors near Kmart, where it left the centre.

It was last seen travelling towards Wood Street.

Lawson said police had been unable to locate the vehicle since, but were confident they were not far from making an arrest.

“We attempted, through PolAir and other means, to identify where the vehicle had gone but our concentration is identifying that male and making an arrest.

“The footage that we have of the one male person in that vehicle is very good footage and we think it’s only a matter of time before we identify that person and an arrest is made,” Lawson said.

“I would encourage that male to think about  handing himself into police.”

There’s no suggestion the male was armed.

“Not long ago there was the big machete attack and now this, it’s just scary,” a shopper told 9News.

A spokesperson from Northland Shopping Centre’s operator Vicinity Centres stressed the centre would remain open with police on site.

“While we are taking this matter very seriously, the centre was not locked down and is open and trading,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“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.”