KEY POINTS:
Waikato police are hunting thieves who stole a Commonwealth Games gold medal from Silver Ferns netball player Laura Langman.
Langman was devastated to return home on Tuesday to find her Tamahere home, nine kilometres south east of Hamilton, had been burgled.
Among a number of items taken were Langman's Commonwealth Games netball gold medal won in the 2006 Melbourne games and her world champs silver medal from 2007.
"There was an awful lot taken but to me the things I want back the most are those medals," Langman said.
Senior Sergeant Tim Anderson of Hamilton police said officers investigating the break-in did not believe the thieves specifically targeted the sporting awards.
"Their was an abundance of items stolen including jewellery, sports gear and her flatmate's laptop computer. We believe the medals were stolen by people who may have very little knowledge of what they have taken.
"We are hoping the high level of public revulsion shown over the recent theft of the military medals will be mirrored here by the people of the Waikato and pressure will be applied for the medals return."
Police held concerns that once the thief or thieves realised what they had in their possession they may find the medals too hot to handle and dump them.
"We would ask that those responsible or anyone who knows the whereabouts of these medals contact the police, confidentially if necessary and arrange for their safe recovery," Mr Anderson said.
- NZPA
