Police in the city of Vecs were called Thursday to a home where a large pile of artillery shells and more than 1,000 live bullet cartridges had been dumped in the front yard, the MTI news agency reported.

After questioning the residents, police determined the 1940s-era munitions had been dug up in a nearby forest and sold to a scrap dealer. The dealer carted the material away but apparently realized the hazard and returned and dumped it, the report said.

Police said they turned the haul over to the military for defusing and destruction.