Treasures taken at Christmas

Christmas lost some of its joy for Tauranga couple Gary and Marlene Ware when a thief stole treasured family items, including a gold sovereign case given to Mr Ware's grandfather by the brother of atomic physicist Lord Rutherford for faithful service in his Nelson flax mills.

Mr Ware said the thief knew what he was after, taking the jewellery and leaving behind electronic goods including a digital camera.