Police in Western Australia have charged a 46-year-old man after a dramatic early morning incident in which a white ute was driven through Perth’s Morley Galleria shopping centre, causing significant damage before the suspect was later arrested at a nearby pub.
The incident unfolded around 4:35am on Friday, when emergency services received multiple calls about a vehicle being used to smash through the southern entrance of the shopping complex. According to police, the ute forced its way inside after a protective bollard was removed, before being driven through the mall’s main doors.
A police spokeswoman said the vehicle then rammed the roller doors of a store but failed to gain access. “The vehicle has then been driven through the main doors and into the roller doors of a store,” she explained. “The driver was unable to gain entry to the store and drove back out of the shopping centre and away from the scene.”
Arrest at Pub
About an hour later, the man was located at the Russell Inn Bar, a local pub in Morley that had not yet opened for business. In a bizarre turn of events, the suspect is alleged to have followed a keg delivery driver into the premises, pretending to be a worker before pouring himself a pint of beer at the bar.
Pub owner Harry Sandhu told ABC News that CCTV footage showed the man attempting to break in through a wire fence before slipping in behind the delivery driver. Once inside, he searched behind the bar for a glass, filled it with beer from the taps, and calmly poured himself a drink.
“He even found time to put on a ‘Best Dad Ever’ apron before police came in with tasers drawn,” Mr Sandhu said. “It’s disappointing to see this happen to a family business. My wife was frightened watching the CCTV the next morning.”
When confronted by the delivery worker, the man left the bar area briefly, only to reappear moments later as police officers entered. CCTV shows him surrendering to police with his hands raised before being handcuffed and escorted out of the venue.
Charges Laid
The 46-year-old Morley resident has been charged with criminal damage or destruction of property and aggravated burglary. He is expected to face court in the coming days.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, with inquiries continuing into the man’s movements prior to the shopping centre break-in and his behaviour afterwards.
Damage and Disruption
Inside the Galleria, tyre marks were clearly visible on the mall floor on Friday morning. The entrance to Target had been cordoned off with white sheeting, while the entry to the Woolworths Mall was also temporarily closed. CCTV footage released to media outlets showed the ute driving through the empty shopping centre with its headlights on, before reversing out of the building.
Centre owners Vicinity released a statement confirming several shops had been impacted. “Following an incident at the centre in the early hours this morning, we are currently assisting police with their investigation,” it read. “At this stage, Target has been impacted and is closed, and the entry to the Woolworths Mall will also be closed until further notice. Trading hours for some impacted stores may vary. All other areas of the centre remain open and trading.”
Community Impact
The unusual chain of events — from a dramatic car-ramming at one of Perth’s busiest shopping centres to a suspect pulling himself a pint at a local bar — has drawn wide public attention. For local business owners like Mr Sandhu, however, the episode has been unsettling.
“This kind of incident really makes things hard as a small business,” he said. “We’re just relieved no one was hurt, but it’s shaken our staff.”
Police have urged anyone with additional footage or information to come forward as they continue to piece together the man’s actions before and after the incident.
