Police charge gang after ‘stumbling across $1m in stolen cash, collectible coins and firearms from Yorke Peninsula farmer’

Two men have been charged after NSW Police stumbled upon $1m, stolen hundreds of kilometres away during a violent home invasion in a tiny South Australian town.

Two men will face separate NSW courts on Tuesday after police stumbled upon more than $1m in cash, stolen hundreds of kilometres away during a violent home invasion in a tiny South Australian town.

SA detectives are investigating why a gang of three armed NSW-based men viciously attacked a farmer, 74, in his Yorketown home, 230km from Adelaide, at 1am on Monday.

As two men were in police custody on Monday night and officers hunted a third fugitive, Yorke Peninsula locals expressed their shock at the assault on the father, golfer and avid coin collector known for using cash.

Some of the seized rifles. Picture: NSW Police

Some of the collectible coins. Picture: NSW Police

SA Police will on Tuesday seek to extradite Scott Buhagiar, 49, of Narara, on the NSW Central Coast and Matthew Ryan, 35, on a raft of serious theft and firearm charges.

Yorke Mid-North officers launched a statewide manhunt after the gang fled the tiny town – population 969 – with a “very large amount” of stolen cash, more than a dozen firearms and the victim’s Toyota sedan.

His car was dumped almost 30km north at Minlaton.

The unnamed victim, who is not accused of wrongdoing, is recovering in hospital after suffering head injuries.

He is believed to have recently sold his multi-million dollar farm.

It is understood the cash haul totalled more than $1m, which would represent one of the state’s biggest physical money thefts from a residential address in living history.

But in what may become one of Australia’s most fortuitous busts, NSW Police caught gang members fleeing the border.

Officers stopped a white Hyundai van at 845am on the Barrier Highway, almost 600km away near Broken Hill.

Buhagiar, the driver, was arrested but his passenger fled on foot and was was on the run on Monday night.

Inside the car, forensic officers found 14 firearms, a further semiautomatic loaded shotgun, a large quantity of collectable coins and cash that was linked to the Yorketown attack inside the van.

Ryan, of Koonawarra, in Wollongong’s southwest, was arrested in another white van at Cobar at 3pm on Monday, more than 1000km from the crime scene.

His charges included an outstanding warrant and driving while disqualified.

A search allegedly found more stolen items from SA, police said.

Both men were refused police bail to face Broken Hill and Cobar local courts on Tuesday.

A NSW police spokesman said SA officers were preparing warrants to take possession of all collectable monies, the two alleged getaway cars and will apply for their extradition.

Detectives are investigating when they ventured into SA and launched the aggravated attack. Police declined to say how much was stolen.

Locals reported an “obvious police presence” as detectives were seen talking to locals along the town’s main street seeking CCTV.

Geograce Automotive director, Lisa Braine, said there had been an obvious police presence around the town centre but people were in the dark.

“We saw a couple of detectives walking down the main street,” she said.

“We joked about it … usually they don’t come unless it’s something serious.”

Police were also asking for CCTV footage from businesses on the main street, local workers said.

There were police inside the Foodland asking questions but “they haven’t informed us of anything else”, said another Yorketown local.

An SA police spokeswoman said investigations were ongoing.

“About 1am on Monday 24 February, police were called to a home on St Vincent Highway after three men broke into the property and assaulted the occupant,” she said.

“The men stole a large amount of cash along with a number of firearms.

“Yorke Mid North police are investigating the incident and are seeking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000.”