Police end museum examination after medals theft

Police and soldiers went door-to-door in Waiouru today. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Forensic scientists today completed their examination of the Waiouru Army Museum but police are doing more investigations at the scene of the weekend medal heist before allowing the museum to reopen.

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Bensemann reiterated his confidence that evidence found so far would help identify those responsible for stealing the 100 gallantry medals, including nine VCs.

But when he spoke to reporters today he would not reveal the items recovered from inside and outside the museum or what the museum's closed circuit TV cameras had shown early on Sunday morning when the medals were stolen.

He said giving such details now would be detrimental to the police investigation.

"The scene examination has provided us with a lot of information that will assist in identifying the person or persons responsible for this crime," Mr Bensemann said.

"The museum CCTV system has been extremely helpful but at this stage I am not prepared to say how it has assisted this investigation ... It has told us a few things that occurred on the night."

Police, accompanied by about 20 military police, started canvassing all occupants of the Waiouru township and military camp today, asking people where they were at the time of the robbery and if they heard or noticed anything unusual.

Mr Bensemann said police were still seeking help from anyone in Waiouru or surrounding area on Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

"There must be someone out there that saw something, however small it might be, that could assist in solving this investigation."

He would not confirm reports that police were focusing on a van parked across the road from the museum at the time of the robbery.

Meanwhile ESR scientists finished their work at Waiouru today and returned to Wellington with material collected from inside and outside the museum.

Police had hoped to return the museum to army control late today, so it could be reopened to the public.

But after detectives reopened their investigation at the scene this afternoon, Mr Bensemann said there were "still some areas of interest that I wish covered off", so they were going to remain there for another day or two.

Photographs of the stolen medals and biographic details of the recipients would be placed on the police internet site later today. The same details would be distributed to overseas authorities.

Mr Bensemann said he would consult with police headquarters about the $200,000 offer from British medal collector Lord Michael Ashcroft for information leading to the stolen medals' return.

He said it was a "generous and gracious offer" but he wanted to establish whether it would help or hinder the police operation. He hoped a decision on the offer would be made within a couple of days.

The 0800 information line, 0800VALOUR, has been used by members of the public to pass on information to the police inquiry team which has grown to 40 officers.

The army has provided the team with office space in the Waiouru Military Camp, along with accommodation and meals.

- NZPA