The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 3, January 20, 2008, Article 25

POLICE ANNOUNCE REWARD IN STOLEN NEW ZEALAND MEDAL CASE

Jim Duncan writes: "The New Zealand Police have offered
a reward of NZ$300,000 for information leading to the return
of the stolen Victoria Crosses and other medals from the
Waiouru Army Museum in December '07.

"This is the largest reward ever offered in New Zealand,
and is made up of offers from prominent British collector
Lord Ashcroft and an anonymous New Zealand businessman.
It is reportedly three times larger than any previous
reward offered!

"It is hoped this will reinvigorate the investigation.
Border controls have been installed, and have already
picked up a single medal being legally taken out, so it
looks as if the controls work.   We all hope so."

[Below are excerpts from a New Zealand newspaper article
on the reward offer.  -Editor]

One of the benefactors funding a reward offer for rare
medals stolen from the Waiouru Army Museum believes they
are still in New Zealand.

About 100 medals, including nine Victoria Crosses and
two George Crosses, were taken from the museum on 2
December. Captain Charles Upham's Victoria Cross and
Bar were among those stolen.

Police have announced a $300,000 reward for information
that leads to a prosecution or recovery of the medals.

The money has been fronted by British Victoria Cross
collector Lord Michael Ashcroft and an anonymous New
Zealand businessman. It is the biggest reward offered
in New Zealand's history.

He says the concern is that the medals will simply
disappear, and he hopes the reward will flush out
someone with knowledge about the theft.

He says there is no reason to believe the medals have
already gone overseas. "We see the reward as being a
tool that compliments the investigation at this time."

The previous highest reward offered was $100,000 for
an investigation into a series of rapes in South Auckland.

He says the theft of the medal sets is a theft from
all New Zealanders, and the public's help is needed
for their recovery.

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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