In a dramatic incident early Friday morning, a man was arrested after allegedly driving a vehicle through the Morley Galleria shopping centre in Perth, causing significant damage. Emergency services responded to reports of a white ute crashing through the southern doors of the shopping centre at approximately 4:35 a.m.
According to police, the vehicle was used to forcibly enter the mall after a bollard was removed. A police spokeswoman stated,
“The vehicle has then been driven through the main doors and into the roller doors of a store. The driver was unable to gain entry to the store and drove back out of the shopping centre and away from the scene.”
Suspect Apprehended at Local Pub
Approximately an hour after the incident, the suspect was apprehended at the Russell Inn, a nearby pub that had not yet opened for business. The pub owner reported that the man followed a worker delivering kegs into the venue, pretending to be an employee and pouring himself a pint at the bar.
CCTV footage captured the suspect driving through a wire fence near the pub and attempting to enter the premises with a metal object. Once inside, he was seen searching for a glass and pouring himself a beer before being confronted by the delivery driver. The man was later arrested by police, who entered the venue with tasers drawn.
Impact on Morley Galleria
Inside the Morley Galleria, tyre marks were visible on the floor, and the entrance to the Target store was cordoned off. Several shops remained closed following the incident, and shopping centre owners Vicinity released a statement confirming the closure of impacted areas.
“Following an incident at the centre in the early hours this morning, we are currently assisting police with their investigation. At this stage, Target has been impacted and is closed, and the entry to the Woolworths Mall will also be closed until further notice.”
Workers were seen repairing the damage, which included shattered glass sliding doors. The incident adds to the challenges faced by the shopping centre, which is already under pressure due to a delayed $240 million redevelopment project.
Community and Business Reactions
Harry Sandhu, owner of the Russell Inn Bar where the suspect was arrested, expressed disappointment over the incident.
“This kind of incident really makes things hard as a small business,”
he said, noting the impact on his family-run establishment.
His wife, who also works at the pub, was reportedly frightened after reviewing the CCTV footage. Despite the disruption, the Russell Inn remained open for business on Friday.
The Morley Galleria incident comes amid ongoing concerns from the community and local politicians regarding the shopping centre’s redevelopment. Most of the second floor remains vacant as tenants await the long-promised renovations.
A spokesperson for Vicinity stated that the incident is not expected to affect the redevelopment plans, although the cost of the damage has yet to be determined. The shopping centre continues to operate in other areas, with adjustments to trading hours for affected stores.
This event highlights the challenges faced by retail centres in maintaining security and managing redevelopment delays, as well as the broader implications for local businesses impacted by such incidents.
