Man charged with driving forklift through Perth shopping centre, attempting to steal ATM
A Perth man who stole a forklift and used it at a local shopping mall in an attempt to steal an ATM has been charged with dozens of offences.
Detectives from Mirrabooka and Joondalup said on Sunday they had been jointly charged after tracking down the man allegedly responsible for a series of incidents in Balcatta and Greenwood earlier this month.
Police said detectives from both counties realized they were looking for the same man after breaking into a shopping mall on Calectasia Avenue in Greenwood on Feb. 11.
He allegedly used power tools to break into the ATM and stole a “large sum of money.”
Five days later, police said he stole a forklift from a business in Balcatta before driving to Centuria Northlands on Wanneroo Road.
He allegedly walked through the center and tried to remove an ATM but was ultimately unsuccessful. There was serious damage to both the shopping center and the box office.
Police said they worked together and quickly determined the same man was wanted in both cases and executed a search warrant at a home in Alexander Heights this week.
The man was staying at the property and was arrested and a search of the home turned up an allegedly stolen truck, drugs and cash.
“Further investigation established that the truck had been stolen from a business in Balcatta in early January 2026.
“It had been used in a number of commercial burglary offences,” a WA police spokesman said.
The 52-year-old man is charged with more than a dozen crimes, including drug possession, aggravated burglary and burglary.
WA police assistant metropolitan commissioner Martin Haime said the arrest demonstrated the good work of the detectives involved.
“If you choose to offend, understand this clearly: our teams work together, we share intelligence, and we will find you,” he said.
“If you target our community, expect to get caught.”
