Stolen NZ Medals

[Mr_Kiwi]

A border alert has been put in place to prevent any of the 100 medals taken from the Army Museum in Waiouru early on Sunday morning from leaving the country.

Ruapehu police want to talk to anyone who was in the small North Island town between midnight on Saturday and 2am Sunday in the hope of any clues that will help identify the brazen thieves.

The heist saw 100 medals taken from the museum, including nine Victoria Crosses (VCs) -- the nation's highest award for bravery during battle.

The officer heading the investigation said anyone who was in the area around the time of the heist may have seen something useful to the investigation, without realising its significance.

The number of officers working on the case is expected to triple today, as police work to close the net on the thieves before they try and dispose of the invaluable medals.


While it is unlikely the thieves could dispose of the medals through legitimate buyers, it is possible they are worth millions on the black market.

The head of the army has described the theft as a violation, and appealed to the consciences of those who had taken the medals, asking them to return them.

Among the VCs looted were the VC and bar awarded to famous World War 2 soldier Captain Charles Upham.

Two rare George Crosses, an Albert Medal, a Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal were also taken in the burglary.

Investigation head Inspector Steve Mastrovich, of Ruapehu police, said police wanted to piece together movements in Waiouru and identify vehicles, where they were parked in the town and the direction they were travelling when they left.

He said the burglars got into the museum via a rear fire escape and went directly to the Valour Alcove where they broke into two display cases, emptying one and partly emptying another.

He told Radio New Zealand it was hard to say whether the offenders were professional thieves.

"On the one hand, it seems there would have to be a degree of planning and sophistication ... but on the other hand it's a pretty stupid crime really so you'd have to wonder at the intellect of people that would steal national treasures and think they are going to get away with it."

Mr Mastrovich would not comment on the adequacy of security at the museum, saying it was not what police were focusing on.

The chief of the Army, Major General Lou Gardiner, said the heist was a crime against the country.

"It just wasn't an army thing or a defence thing. It really is part of our heritage.

"NZ history and military history is inter-woven. It's part of our nationhood and that's why it is so emotional," he said.

He said the army would be looking at security at the museum.

Nothing like this had ever happened before, and the isolation of the museum had always been seen as part of its defence, he said.

A lot of the medals -- including the Upham VC and bar, on loan from the British Imperial War Museum -- were on loan.

He said he hoped cameras in place in the museum would have caught the offenders, and help to identify them.

The theft had hit the army hard, and felt like a violation, he said.

"It's just appalling quite frankly."

Defence Minister Phil Goff described the burglary as a "crime against the nation," while National MP Wayne Mapp has called for an investigation into the museum's security.

Amanda Upham, one of the daughters of Upham, said she was "outraged" by the theft.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/071202/3/2wsk.html


unquote
Just thought I would share.

[designervision]

Sucks, doesn't it!

[Mr_Kiwi]

Its disgusting, but knowing NZ if they catch the people responisble they'll get a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket and a letter sent to their mommy...

[designervision]

Yeah, sucks too!

Did you hear about that Waikato computer hacker that the NZ Police and FBI arrested? I'm hoping he's extradited, 'cos conviction over here (where we have about nil experience with this type of crime, and a tendency to give murders parole) would mean probably not more than a year behind bars.

Sam.

[Mr_Kiwi]

Yes I read about that one too. The NZ justice system will look at him and basically say 'Oh hes only young, I'm sure he didnt know the full extent of what he was doing. 3 months in jail and some community service'

Oh yes, the old murder cases, they say 'life in prison!' then it turns out to be 8 years and then out on good behaviour...really quite sad. Not to mention those 8 years the bastard is watching Sky (all channels) has access to gaming consoles and computers, pretty good food and so on. The NZ prison and justice system is a total joke.

[Brian-]

Yeah, sucks too!

Did you hear about that Waikato computer hacker that the NZ Police and FBI arrested? I'm hoping he's extradited, 'cos conviction over here (where we have about nil experience with this type of crime, and a tendency to give murders parole) would mean probably not more than a year behind bars.

Sam.

Yeah but in America he'd get something totally ridiculous like 140 years with no parole.

[designervision]

Yeah, sucks too!

Did you hear about that Waikato computer hacker that the NZ Police and FBI arrested? I'm hoping he's extradited, 'cos conviction over here (where we have about nil experience with this type of crime, and a tendency to give murders parole) would mean probably not more than a year behind bars.

Sam.

Yeah but in America he'd get something totally ridiculous like 140 years with no parole.

Well him and his team did affect over 1.3 million computers.

[Mr_Kiwi]

With over $26 million US lost due to down time