A man has been arrested after an allegedly stolen Toyota LandCruiser ploughed through a busy Melbourne shopping centre, terrifying those inside.

A major emergency response was sparked after the white four-wheel-drive sped through Northland Shopping Centre on Wednesday.

Victoria Police said the incident began when centre security alerted them to the stolen vehicle at the Preston shopping centre, in Melbourne’s north, just after 4pm.

“It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle,” they said.

Police were on the scene within five minutes, and tried to block the LandCruiser in in the shopping centre car park.

It is alleged it took evasive action, driving straight into the centre of Northland.

Footage circulating online shows shoppers fleeing as the vehicle hurtles through the mall.

“It sounded like gunshots,” one witness told the Nine Network.

Another reported she “just heard people yelling and crying”.

“Thankfully, no one was struck by the car and there are no reported injuries,” Victoria Police said.

Paramedics treated two people at the scene, with one woman taken to hospital suffering shock.

The 4WD was recovered in nearby Beavers Road, Northcote, about an hour later but the alleged driver remained on the run overnight.

Police said the vehicle had been stolen from a property in Ivanhoe East on June 2.

“It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the LandCruiser without the vehicle’s keys,” Victoria Police said.

About 8.30am on Thursday, a 27-year-old man was arrested in East Melbourne.

“An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized during the arrest,” police said.

He was being interviewed by detectives later on Thursday. No one else is sought in relation to the incident.

In a twist, Northland was evacuated on Thursday morning after a fire broke out in the centre’s Myer store.

Fire Rescue Victoria said firefighters were called in, with reports smoke was billowing from the centre. The source was quickly identified as smoke from a light-fitting.

Both incidents came just weeks after the same shopping centre was locked down during a wild gang machete brawl. Seven people, including four teenagers, have been charged over that incident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.