UPDATE: The Age has reported the hunt for armed robber Lachlan Mitchell, who escaped on crutches from youth detention on Tuesday appears to have headed across the South Australian border.
It's believed the black ute involved in helping the Warrnambool man flee from Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre was involved in a carjacking at gunpoint at Mil-Lel, north of Mount Gambier.
South Australia Police Media reported that following a minor crash at the intersection of Sherwin Road and Attamurra Road, Mil-Lel on Thursday morning, "a grey Nissan Navara dual cab ute was stolen at gunpoint from the owner".
"The two male suspects abandoned a black Holden ute at the scene of the crash and drove off in the stolen car," an SA police spokesperson said.
"The stolen grey 2012 Nissan Navara, registration S095ATV, has a chrome bull bar and small dent in the driver's side door."
It is understood the incident is connected to the search for Mitchell.
UPDATE: Ballarat Police are on high alert following the escape of a man from Malmsbury youth jail.
Two police pursuits were conducted in Ballarat on Tuesday afternoon when the young armed robber Lachlan Mitchell, 20, was on the run.
Police media said the first pursuit took place at 2.25pm on Gillies Road but was terminated shortly after the vehicle, a black Holden utility, approached Wendouree.
The second pursuit took place at 2.55pm when the vehicle was seen on Gillies Road again but was called off minutes later.
Mitchell then headed north towards Avoca and Maryborough.
Police are still searching for Mitchell and anyone with information is urged to contact triple zero immediately.
Investigators have released an image of the black Holden Commodore utility, which bears false South Australian registration plates XAA 230 and has a black hard top canopy and roof racks.
Mitchell was wearing black shorts, white runners, a grey t-shirt and a black jumper when he left the centre and is described as being Caucasian, 175cm tall, medium build, with blue eyes and short hair.
EARLIER: The Age reported a young armed robber on crutches has escaped from Malmsbury youth jail, seemingly by walking out a door and into a waiting car.
Fairfax Media understands Lachlan Mitchell, 20, was in a wheelchair and then on crutches when he left Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre about 2pm on Tuesday.
Mitchell travelled through Ballarat pursued by police, before heading north towards Avoca and Maryborough on the Sunraysia Highway yesterday.
A prison source said Mitchell, who is from Warrnambool, talked on a telephone in a prison office, before casually leaving and getting in a black ute.
The source said he was "seriously dangerous".
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Mitchell was on the run from police for a week in September over armed robbery and car theft.
He was finally arrested when the car he was driving collided with a B-double petrol tanker near Camperdown, 200 kilometres west of Melbourne. The tanker ran off the Princes Highway and became bogged, while Mitchell's allegedly stolen car overturned and landed in a paddock.
A loaded sawn-off shotgun, stolen property and implements used to break into houses and carry out armed robberies were found in Mitchell's car.
Mitchell is serving a 12 month sentence in Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.
On Tuesday however, police said he "left the facility" and hopped into a black ute that was waiting for him outside.
The vehicle had South Australian plates with the registration XAA230.
Mitchell is described as being about 175 centimetres tall, with a medium build, blue eyes and short hair. He was wearing black shorts, white runners, a grey T-shirt and a black jumper.
The Department of Health and Human Services is working with police to find him.
A spokesman for the department said a "full review of the incident will be undertaken".
Anyone with any information about Lachlan Mitchell's whereabouts is asked to call triple zero immediately.
The story 'Seriously dangerous' armed robber walks out of Victorian jail and into waiting car first appeared on The Age.
