Appeal for jewellery theft victims to come forward

Police are making a final appeal for victims of a pair of alleged jewel thieves to come forward so that their property can be returned.

Romanian couple Ioan, 48, and Paulina Kvec, 44, were stopped in Bulls, near Palmerston North, on February 22 for speeding.

An officer recognised them as the suspects in heists which occurred in Napier, Hastings and Tauranga.

A cache of 40 pieces of jewellery was recovered following their arrest with a value expected to exceed $100,000.

The Kvecs have been charged with robberies of jewellery stores and a liquor store. The pair have also been charged with possessing amphetamines.

They are due to appear in Palmerston North District Court on Thursday where a plea may be entered.

Police have returned 10 jewellery items so far but have had no response on the remaining 30.

"We are surprised we haven't had more reports," Detective Sergeant David Burmeister said today.

"We believed there is a high probability that some of the jewellery we still have is stolen property. I would urge jewellers and antique traders to check and re-check their stock."

He said areas most likely to have been hit were Auckland, the east coast of the North Island and Wellington.

The pair had reached New Zealand via Brunei, and Central districts communications manager Kim Perks said it was possible some items may had come from overseas.

Ms Perks said it was not yet clear what would happen to any unclaimed items and a decision was likely to be made once the case had been through the courts.

She said the charges faced by the pair - currently totalling 11 relating to six jewellers, four banks and a liquor store - relied on thefts being reported.

Ms Perks said details on how cash had been taken from banks would not be released other than that it involved asking to change money into lower denominations then distracting staff during that process.

- NZPA