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UC Santa Cruz Security Guard Arrested For Planning Robbery

SANTA CRUZ (CBS / AP) -- A University of California, Santa Cruz security guard was arrested on suspicion of planning a large-scale robbery and possessing a cache of illegal guns and ammunition, police said.

Nicholas Yukich, 54, was being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grand theft and possession of assault weapons.

Police did not say what business they believe Yukich was planning to rob, but an informant Yukich tried to recruit for the heist tipped them off.

"He was definitely the mastermind of it," Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark told the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper.

Detectives found some 48 guns including assault weapons, shotguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition -- including armor-piercing rounds -- in Yukich's mobile home.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting with the investigation.

The university said Yukich worked at the school as a community service officer, which are employed through the school's housing department.

He is being held on $150,000 bail, and is due in court June 7.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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