MUSEUM GOLD THEFT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28897, 18 May 1959, Page 8

MUSEUM GOLD THEFT

Police Seek Public’s Help (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, May 16. The Invercargill police has asked the public to help in finding the person or persons who stole gold and a valuable Maori greenstone tiki from the Invercargill Museum last month. Inquiries have extended to the North Island. Chief Inspector F. Taylor, officer-in-charge of Southland police, asked that anyone who saw people displaying samples of gold, either in a bottle or not, or who had seen anyone recently with them, to communicate with the police.

Mr H. T. Thompson, vicepresident of the Museum Trust Board, said he believed the theft was very cunningly contrived. Two, possibly three persons could have taken part in it. It would be easy for one to unscrew an exhibit case while he was shielded by another while still another could keep a lookout.

The tiki, which was stolen before the gold was taken, was valued at about £4l, he said, but he could not place a .value on the gold. Some of it was irreplaceable, and some of it no use to those who took it because it was in sand.

If the thieves are thinking of selling the gold they will have to carry out the transaction through a bank or gold buyer. It is believed that all banks have been given details of the gold. The gold was contained in three bottles and a nugget about the size of a fingernail was imbedded in a piece of black fibrous hornblende, which is gold bearing quartz. Screws about 2|in long were taken out of the display case to remove the exhibits. The theft took place at a time when the board was endeavouring to keep the museum open with voluntary help. . The museum has since been closed.