A man who yesterday ditched his car after seeing police officers on the Pacific Highway, fled, broke into a nearby house and tried to steal guns is still on the run.
Highway patrol officers were on the highway at Nabiac when a speeding van caught their attention.
The van turned off the highway and crashed into an embankment before the male driver bolted.
Police found a woman’s handbag, which had been stolen from a car in Merewether on Saturday, inside the vehicle.
Officers and a police dog then tracked the man to a nearby house.
It had been broken into, clothes stolen and the gun safe had been tampered with, police say.
A further search of the area was conducted but the man, aged in his 30s, was not found.
Investigators believe the man could have escaped in a white Suzuki four-wheel drive with NSW registration AR-57-FQ, which was stolen from Crockers Lane, Nabiac, about 5.30pm yesterday.
Anyone who sees the car or the man is urged not to approach him and to immediately contact police via Triple Zero.