New South Wales Police have uncovered more than a dozen guns and $1 million worth of collectable coins and cash that was allegedly stolen during a home invasion.
A local officer in Broken Hill, a town far west of the state near the South Australia border, stopped a Hyundai van on the Barrier Highway on Monday about 8.45am.
After the vehicle stopped, the front seat passenger jumped out and ran from police, while the 49-year-old driver was detained at the scene.
A forensic search was carried out inside the white van, with officers allegedly finding 14 firearms, a semi-automatic loaded shotgun, collectable coins and other cash.
It is understood the cash totalled $1 million, The Daily Telegraph reported, making it one of the largest physical amounts of money taken during a robbery in NSW.
Police linked the items to a home invasion that allegedly happened interstate some 800 kilometres away seven hours earlier that day.
Investigators say a 74-year-old man had been assaulted by three men who broke into his Yorktown home in South Australia and fled with the guns and cash.
It is alleged the driver was fleeing when he was caught by police.
The 49-year-old has since been charged with 18 offences including knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, receive stolen property outside NSW, possess loaded firearm in a public place and 14 counts of possess unauthorised firearm.
He will appear at Broken Hill Local Court on Tuesday.
The passenger remains on the run.
Meanwhile, another van was stopped on Monday about 3pm in Cobar, central west of NSW.
Police also allegedly found items linked to the South Australia home invasion.
The 35-year-old man who was behind the wheel was charged with outstanding warrant, drive while disqualified, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and receive property stolen outside of NSW. He faces Cobar Local Court also on Tuesday.
In a statement, NSW Police said it was working with its South Australian counterparts.
“South Australian police are preparing exterritorial warrants to take possession of all collectable monies and the two vehicles used in the robbery and will apply for the extradition of the two men at their next court appearance,” it read.
