In a dramatic incident early Friday morning, a man was arrested after driving a vehicle through the Morley Galleria shopping centre in Perth, causing significant damage. Emergency services reported receiving calls about a white ute crashing through the southern entrance of the mall around 4:35 a.m.
According to police, the vehicle was used to forcibly enter the shopping centre after a bollard was removed. The car then proceeded to drive through the main doors and into the roller doors of a store. However, the driver was unable to gain entry to the store and subsequently exited the shopping centre, fleeing the scene.
Arrest at a Nearby Pub
Approximately an hour after the incident, police apprehended the suspect at the Russell Inn, a nearby pub that had not yet opened for the day. CCTV footage from the pub showed the man attempting to enter the venue by driving through a wire fence and trying to open the pub door with a long metal object.
Publican Harry Sandhu, owner of the Russell Inn Bar, described how the suspect followed a worker delivering kegs into the venue and then pretended to be a pub employee, even pouring himself a pint at the bar. “This kind of incident really makes things hard as a small business,” Sandhu remarked, expressing disappointment over the disruption.
Impact on Morley Galleria
Inside the Morley Galleria, tyre marks were visible on the floor, and the entrance to Target was cordoned off with white sheeting. Several shops in the shopping centre remained closed following the incident. Vicinity, the shopping centre’s owners, released a statement confirming that they were assisting police with the investigation and detailing the closures.
“At this stage, Target has been impacted and is closed, and the entry to the Woolworths Mall will also be closed until further notice,” the statement read. “Trading hours for some impacted stores within the Woolworths Mall may vary. All other areas of the centre remain open and trading.”
Workers were seen on-site, repairing the damage caused by the vehicle’s entry through the glass sliding doors of the shopping centre.
Ongoing Challenges for the Shopping Centre
This incident adds to the challenges faced by Morley Galleria, which has been under scrutiny from the local community and politicians due to delays in its redevelopment plans. The second floor of the centre remains largely vacant as tenants await a $240 million renovation.
A spokesperson for Vicinity stated that the incident is not expected to impact the redevelopment plans, though it is too early to assess the full cost of the damage incurred.
Meanwhile, the Russell Inn Bar and Restaurant continued operations as usual on Friday, despite the morning’s disruption. Sandhu noted that his wife, who also works at the venue, was shaken after reviewing the CCTV footage. “When she came in the morning, looking at the videos, she feels a little bit scared,” he added.
As the investigation continues, the community remains on edge, awaiting further details and the potential implications for both the shopping centre and local businesses.
