Victoria Police spokeswoman Sergeant Kim Bramwell said Ballarat officers were in the process of apprehending the 16-year-old for criminal damage before he allegedly fled on foot.

In response, witnesses said police gave chase through the car park of a Mitre 10 store and a service station along Albert Street about 10.20am.

One woman at the scene, who did not want to be named, said she saw several police vehicles and officers going after the boy.

“They were chasing a man with a mullet and no shoes from the servo through to Mitre 10,” she said.

But eventually police caught up with the boy, arresting him along Albert Street near an Aldi supermarket about 10.45am.

Sergeant Bramwell said the teenager has been charged in relation to criminal damage. He was bailed to appear at court at a later date.