More theft

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David Hardway

Today all 96 medals stolen have been recovered and are undamaged

Dave

Heres the story...



Stolen war medals recovered in NZ

Posted 2 hours 31 minutes ago
Updated 38 minutes ago

War medals stolen from a New Zealand army museum last December have been found.

Police say all 12 sets of a total of 96 medals have been found at an unspecified location.

Nine Victoria Crosses, including Charles Upham's VC and Bar - the only one ever awarded to a combat soldier - were taken.

Captain Upham was New Zealand's most decorated soldier and was awarded the VC and Bar for valour in Crete and North Africa during World War II.

He died in 1994.

The recovered medals have not been damaged and are being tested for forensic purposes.

New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff says he is delighted and relieved about the recovery of the medals which he has called national treasures.

He says their return is a welcome relief for the whole nation.

"The worst scenario was that they might have been stolen to order, they might have been smuggled out of the country - relatively easy to do given their size," he said.

"To have them back, to have these as national treasures back under the control of the Defence Force and in the future available again to the public is just great."

Police inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Benjamin says a reward was agreed to be paid to what he calls an "independent third party".

But he will not name that person or say how much money will be paid, but he does say the transaction will be completed on Monday.

Meanwhile, a nine-strong team of detectives continues to try to track down the thieves.

Detective Benjamin says the recovery of the medals narrows the focus of the inquiry and he adds the net is closing in on the thieves.