Ram-raiders' brazen heist leaves trail of destruction through Melbourne shopping centre

Police are searching for a group of men after several shops were smashed by a car inside a Melbourne shopping centre.

CCTV footage showed the white four-wheel drive shattering several shop fronts and reversing over a Christmas tree in Forest Hill Chase about 5am today.

The men drove from one end of the strip to the other, building up speed to destroy a kiosk in the centre of the aisle.

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With the kiosk destroyed, the men were seen struggling to load a safe into the back of the SUV.

The men eventually succeed at loading the safe, and clipped the side of another glass door on their way out. 

Police do not know which direction the car drove off in afterwards and are appealing to the public for help.

While authorities haven't released a description of the offenders, they hope someone may recognise the men or have spotted their distinctly damaged car in the vicinity of Canterbury Road.

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Victoria Police allege the car had stolen license plates attached - 1VK7IZ.

It's unclear if an alarm was triggered and how long it took officers to respond. 

A Flight Centre was significantly damaged in the incident, along with at least six other businesses.

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