Police seek night-vision gear from medals theft

The stolen medals

Police believe the war-medal thieves used night-vision equipment and walkie-talkies during the break-in at Waiouru Army Museum.

Officers raided addresses linked to the two key suspects last week, with a search warrant allowing the seizure of shoes to match against footprints found at the scene of the December 2 break-in.

The warrant, seen by the Herald, shows police were also looking for specialised burglary gear such as night-vision equipment as varied as "camcorders, torches, lights and marking devices or material".

The communication devices sought included walkie-talkies and cellphones but also any electronic equipment "capable of storing plans, photographs or notes".

The tools sought included a screwdriver "capable of removing round-headed wooden screws".

Police also wanted a battery drill and "a tool with a round head capable of smashing glass".

Police have not made any arrests over the break-in, in which nine Victoria Crosses were among the 96 medals stolen.

The medals were returned last month, and the thieves got an undisclosed portion of the $300,000 reward.

The warrant shows police wanted bank account records and any identity documents "not belonging" to people at the addresses raided.

They also wanted to seize cameras.

Police are also searching for 10 pieces of black backing card to which the medals were attached.

The warrant also allowed the seizure of any museum-related documents.

The suspects can only be called W and K because of a court order.

The police searched both suspects' homes last week, as well as Mt Eden Prison, where W has been held on unrelated charges since three days after the museum burglary.

W was out on bail at the time of the break-in, having struck a deal with police over the return of a Goldie painting and other artefacts taken from the University of Auckland in a similar crime.

WHAT OFFICERS SEARCHED FOR

* Night-vision equipment and walkie-talkies.
* Shoes matching particular footprints.
* Any footwear with glass samples in it.
* Banking records.