A "substantial reward" is being offered for the return of stolen firearms including machine guns taken from a Northland museum early this month.
Five guns including a Thompson M1 Tommy small machine gun, favoured by American gangsters during the Prohibition era, were stolen from the Anawahata Museum Trust at Maungatapere, 12km southwest of Whangarei.
Also taken was a .303 calibre Bren light machine gun, approximately 1.5m long and weighing 10.5kg. The weapon is new, having never been used prior to it being sold as surplus. Also stolen were four 30-round banana magazines for the Bren gun and a 50-round magazine for the Tommy gun.
The thieves also took an Enfield .455 calibre revolver and two replica 1850s Colt revolvers.
Museum director Graeme Craw was still adding to the list of stolen treasures taken by thieves on July 5.
"I doubt I will see any of it again ... but I would pay a substantial reward to have any of the items returned," Mr Craw said.
The guns were in a special room made to police specifications with bars on the windows.
Heavy doors with locks were smashed by the thieves determined to get the firearms, Mr Craw said.
Mr Craw said the guns were not in working condition while on display but it would not take a gunsmith long to get them operational.
The remaining guns in the collection had been removed from the museum.
The museum moved from Auckland to Northland in 1987 and opened for viewing by arrangement.
Mr Craw said plans to open the museum to the public had been thwarted by the theft.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Fears true extent of police pack rapist Brad Shipton’s crimes may never be known
The ex-policeman died this week aged 65 after early onset dementia.