Police use advanced technology to hunt medal thieves

Police are turning to advanced technology in their bid to catch the thieves who stole 100 medals, many rare, from the Army Museum in Waiouru last Sunday.

An Auckland-based expert has been at the museum today assisting investigators to create a digital map of the museum.

Detective Dennis O'Rourke said the digital map would graphically replicate the activities of the offender or offenders within the premises.

Amongst the thieves' haul were nine Victoria Crosses, including the extremely rare VC and Bar awarded to World War 2 hero Captain Charles Upham.

Meanwhile, a forensic examination of the scene had been completed and scientists had taken a number of items back to Wellington for evaluation.

Mr O'Rourke would not elaborate on what evidence had been found.

He said police had hoped to give the building back to the museum authorities yesterday but it was now expected to be handed back on Friday.

About 20 military police officers, seconded to the case, had an uncomfortable afternoon as they braved heavy rain to door-knock Waiouru residents in a bid to interview all of the town about their whereabouts on Saturday night.

So far 400 houses had been called on and 600 army personnel and employees within the camp had been questioned.

Mr O'Rourke said it was hoped to finish the door-to-door inquiry by tomorrow.

"I understand that there's been a very high level of cooperation by all of the people spoken to and a number of items of information came out of this phase and have been passed onto other members of the inquiry for further action."

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Bensemann said police investigation of the museum's closed circuit TV footage was now focusing on footage captured on Saturday night and Sunday morning when the raid took place.

Then footage from recent weeks would also be examined, Mr Bensemann said.

He said questioning of museum staff was "just an extension of the area canvass", speaking to people who could have seen something suspicious or of help to the investigation.

Mr O'Rourke said he was "very happy" with the progress of the inquiry so far.

"We've got to do the basics and we're working our way through that process now and I think everything's been going in a timely manner."

He said police were still considering on whether to support the offer of a $200,000 reward for the safe return of the medals made by British peer Lord Michael Ashcroft.

Lord Ashcroft said the stolen Charles Upham medal was the holy grail of VCs.

Police were still asking for people who were in or had travelled through Waiouru late Saturday night or early Sunday morning to contact them by calling the hotline number or emailing them.

"We will get back to them - it might take a little while because we've still got a lot of information to get through, but we will get back to them."

- NZPA