Mount retirees' heartfelt appeal for stolen treasures

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A retired couple who had just set up their dream home in Mount Maunganui have been left heartbroken after a highly organised burglary robbed them of $40,000 worth of irreplaceable treasures, including an international public service medal.

The couple, who have not been named for fear of retribution, have appealed for help to find their stolen belongings taken from their Maunganui Rd apartment earlier this month.

The woman said she and her husband moved from Auckland last year and managed to finally set up their home and furnishings just before Christmas.

"My job has meant we've had to live overseas for a number of years. This was our first setting up of our home," she said.

The woman, who worked in human services, received an Australian public service medal for her contribution to disability services when she was living there several years ago.

She also received a medal for her volunteer work at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and a New Zealand Registered Nurses medal.

All three were stolen, along with jewellery and her husband's treasured collection of high-end audio items - including a rare Yamaha home stereo system.

The woman said her husband was an "audiophile" and had a passion for all sound-related technology which he had been collecting since he was 20. He is now 65.

"Over the many years he's collected different types of speakers, amplifiers, DVD and BluRay-type of equipment. To some extent, some speakers have been given to him from people who knew he would take good care of them."

This included two "beautiful speakers from a very dear friend of ours" who bequeathed them when he died, she said.

"It was his dream that he was finally putting together all of his equipment," she said.

Police valued the stolen goods at more than $40,000.

The burglars wore gloves and left behind a purpose-built trolley used to transport the gear into a vehicle, the woman said.

"They would have needed a bloody big unit to take everything away," the woman said.

"And they would have spent a long time dismantling everything."

The couple had been out of town when their apartment was robbed. The woman said she had been left saddened, apprehensive, and angry.

She appealed to anyone who might have seen suspicious activity or use of the trolley in and around the area of Leinster Ave and Maunganui Rd between January 29 and February 4.

"It was something we were so excited about.

"It has been a lifetime hobby and a big part of our searching for the right place and it's just gone in the blink of an eye."

In addition to the medals and audio equipment, distinctive jewellery was taken, including a pearl choker necklace, string of pearls with earrings, gold heart shape signet ring with ruby, five bridge gold and three diamond rings, a diamond on a gold chain, a man's Omega watch along with other gold bracelets, rings and necklaces.

Tauranga acting Detective Sergeant Sally Prentice-Jones said all the property held great sentimental value to the couple and they were hoping someone would have information that could help lead police to the recovery of the belongings.