I hope they are found quickly and aren't damaged in any way: BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | NZ thieves steal rare VC medals
They must have been commisioned by someone to steal them, otherwise the medals would be worthless as they could not be sold!
Nine? I think you might be right Morse. Seems a very professional job. They obviously know what they've got so the chance of ditching the medals or destroying them is hopefully very low. Therefore, they have more chance of being recovered. Hope the AWM takes note given the number of VCs they have on display and publicise the fact regularly.
You can bet your Salada's that the AWM were in contact with the museum in NZ and the AWM had their security in today. There is no doubt that these VC's were ordered. Just hope that when it all comes tumbling down, the boys at the top are caught. People sometimes do have to prove that money can buy everything. If the perpetrators of the crime are NZedders and get the wrong Magistrate, they may be spending quite a long time in clink!
Reward offered British peer offers reward for stolen VCs | NEWS.com.au A WEALTHY British peer has offered a $NZ200,000 ($174,000) reward for the return of rare military medals stolen from a New Zealand military museum. Businessman Michael Ashcroft, a collector of military medals, said he was "horrified and outraged'' to hear of the burglary of medals including nine Victoria Crosses, the highest military bravery award in the Commonwealth. Yesterday, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said the theft was a crime against the nation which had "revolted the whole country". The thieves evaded a security alarm, cameras and patrols to smash their way through reinforced glass cabinets to grab the medals The haul in the daring and apparently well-planned burglary early on Sunday at the New Zealand War museum at Waiouru in the North Island included the only Victoria Cross and bar ever awarded to a combatant. The medal awarded to New Zealander Sir Charles Upham was the "holy grail'' of Victoria Crosses, said Baron Ashcroft, who owns 146 Victoria Crosses, more than 10 per cent of the total ever awarded. "As a collector and someone who has a history with the Victoria Cross, I wanted to do my bit to return these medals to the museum,'' said Baron Ashcroft, who sits in the British House of Lords. He said the medals, which have the name of the holder etched into them, would have no value to the thief because they could not be sold. "My fear is whoever has stolen them realises there is no market, rather than hand them back or leave them to be found, may do something so they are never found again.'' Miss Clark reacted cautiously to the reward offer, saying she would consult with the police. "One of the issues that always arises is whether you should encourage the posting of such offers because it could in the worst of circumstances be an incentive to theft,'' she said. "On the other hand, the offer is obviously made on very good faith and I'd like to get police advice on that.''
I still think that they were stolen to order for a collector! By now they would be out of the country and safe, as will the crimminals.
These were definitely stolen to order, may take decades to recover them. A NT property I know was robbed 15 years ago and half a dozen Thoman Tompian Clocks were stolen. they know it was to order and it won't be until that collector dies that they may be recovered. And how easy will it be to smuggle out 9 VC's?
I once joked with a policeman, that if anyone broke in and stole my books, then they could start looking at various book shops, as they would be stolen to order!
A mate in NZ just said the people kicking up the biggest stink about the stolen medals are the family that SOLD the medals to the museum!
Probably thinking that they sold them too cheap after hearing the insurance valuations being printed in the media.
It is a crying shame however a seemingly necessary security measure in light of the previous robbery.
The last sentence here is interesting! Possibly that they be kept in safe keeping with the Ashcroft collection once they are recovered? I am terrible aren't I? Seeing a conspiracy in everything!
Perhaps he made the offer, um, a little too quickly? No worries, Spidge, I'm there with you...pair of cynical baskets that we are!
