Third man charged after $1m in cash, guns stolen in Yorketown home invasion

Another man has been arrested and charged over a violent home invasion on the Yorke Peninsula, in which guns and $1m was stolen.

A third man has faced court after a violent home invasion at Yorketown where a gang stole more than $1m in cash as well as guns and other property.

The 50-year-old was arrested by NSW police on Saturday, a few days after a vehicle stop where officers found “alleged proceeds” from last month’s heist.

They previously arrested two others allegedly involved in the robbery a few hours after it occurred in early on February 24.

The third man was a passenger in a white Hyundai van travelling on the Barrier Highway near Broken Hill when an officer from Broken Hill Highway Patrol stopped the vehicle.

Alleged victim Francis Taheny, aka Dig, pictured in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, during a trip to Japan. Picture: Yorke Peninsula Country Times

He then fled the van but police managed to arrest the 49-year-old driver and conducted a forensic search of the vehicle at Broken Hill Police Station.

They found 14 firearms as well as a semiautomatic loaded shotgun, a large quantity of collectable coins and cash.

“Inquiries by detectives linked the items found inside the vehicle to an aggravated break, enter and steal offence at Yorketown in South Australia …” NSW police said in a statement.

The incident involved a gang of three armed NSW-based men who allegedly viciously attacked a 74-year-old farmer, identified as Francis ‘Dig’ Taheny, in his Yorketown home in the early hours of February 24.

They allegedly stole more than $1m in cash, several guns and the victim’s Toyota sedan before fleeing the Yorke Peninsula town.

Police earlier arrested two of the men – 49-year-old Scott Buhagiar, of Narara, and 35-year-old Matthew Ryan – who faced separate NSW courts last month.

Matthew Ryan, 35, from Koonawarra in NSW, is one of two men charged over a robbery at Yorketown on Monday, February 24, 2025.

Police located the third man – the passenger – following extensive inquiries and arrested him in Sturt Park, Broken Hill, just before midday on Saturday.

The 50-year-old was taken to Broken Hill police station where the outstanding warrant was executed and he was charged with knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, receiving property stolen outside NSW, possessing loaded firearm in a public place, not keeping firearm safely and other charges.

He appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, where he was formally refused bail.

He is now due to appear at Broken Hill Local Court next month.

Originally published as Third man charged after $1m in cash, guns stolen in Yorketown home invasion