No N.Z. link in Qantas gold heist

Press, 8 October 1988, Page 8

No N.Z. link in Qantas gold heist

PA Wellington The police were confident last evening there was no Wellington connection in the robbery of more than $400,000 in gold and silver from a Qantas plane which arrived in Wellington on Saturday. Detective Chief Inspector Ted Lines said the police had interviewed staff at Wellington Airport, and felt sure the container containing the precious metal was empty on arrival.

The gold and silver went missing on a flight between Port Moresby and Sydney last Friday. The plane also stopped in Brisbane. Mr Lines said the Wellington police had notified Interpol of their findings and would investigate further only if they received a message to that effect. A Sydney airport police spokesman said last evening that Qantas', staff at the airport had been interviewed thoroughly, but the police remained baffled.

“We don’t know whether it was an opportunist act or a planned one — whatever it was, they did a bloody good job, because we really are no further,” he said.

Sydney airport would remain the focus of the inquiry, but investigations in Brisbane would be stepped up today.

Some of the marine equipment, valued at $2 million, on display at the 3ZB Boat Show at the Halswell Aquatic Centre. The main swimming pool has been covered with a 45-metre by 25metre pavilion for the three-day show, which began yesterday afternoon. Decks that look like jetties span the pool, dividing it into four equal areas. Boats in the main pool alone are estimated to be valued at SIM.