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Police are finally set to offer a reward for the return of about 100 military medals, including rare Victoria Crosses, stolen from Waiouru Army Museum at the start of December.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad and Army chief Major General Lou Gardiner will front a press conference about a reward in Wellington tomorrow morning.
The officer in charge of the probe into the missing medals, Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Bensemann, will also be present.
Nine Victoria Cross medals were among those taken in the heist, including those of World War 2 soldier Captain Charles Upham, the only fighting man to ever win two VCs, the highest decoration for gallantry in the British Commonwealth.
Capt Upham's medals have been described as the "holy grail" by British peer and Victoria Cross collector Lord Michael Ashcroft who offered a $200,000 reward for their return.
An American ex-serviceman and an unidentified New Zealand businessman also offered money, but police have mulled over the appropriateness of a reward for more than a month.
The medals are considered to be worth several millions of dollars. Victoria Crosses are valued at about $500,000. Two rare George Crosses, an Albert Medal and a Distinguished Conduct Medal were among the others taken.
- NZPA
