KEY POINTS:
Police are investigating a possible international heist after a Romanian couple, found with a $100,000 stash of jewellery, were arrested near Palmerston North and charged with theft.
The couple, who live in the United Kingdom and arrived in New Zealand on February 11, were stopped by police in Bulls, 31km north-west of Palmerston North, at the weekend for allegedly speeding, police communications manager Kim Perks said.
Police recognised the couple, a 44-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man, as suspects in thefts from jewellers in Napier, Hastings and Tauranga and they were arrested.
Forty pieces of jewellery were recovered following the arrest, and several pieces valued at $40,000 had already been identified by victims of the robberies. The value of the entire jewellery cache was expected to exceed $100,000.
Police were attempting to find out if the remaining pieces were stolen or the couple's legitimate belongings, and asked jewellers who recognised the couple or were missing any pieces to contact them.
However, it was possible some pieces had come from overseas as the pair had come to New Zealand via Brunei, Ms Perks said.
Police were working with Interpol to establish what the pair's movements had been before coming to New Zealand.
The couple, who had been due to leave the country tomorrow, face three counts of theft each and were being held in custody to appear in Palmerston North District Court on Thursday.
- NZPA
