A man who allegedly attempted to steal cash from a collection bin by posing as a charity worker is facing up to seven years in jail.

The 54-year-old man was at Sydney Airport on August 15 with a suitcase of tools, including bolt cutters, when he tried to break a padlock on a charity donation bin, police said.

Between $1000 and $7000 in cash was believed to be in the collection bin at the airport's arrival concourse.

The man told airport staff that he was a representative of the charity and asked to borrow a larger set of bolt cutters when his set failed to cut through the padlock, police said.

Australian Federal Police at the airport were alerted, and the man was intercepted before he could break into the collection bin.

AFP Acting Sergeant Tim Skrypnikov said any criminal behaviou

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