Hunt for stolen medals intensifies 

Every single person in the town of Waiouru is to be questioned by police as they hunt the culprits who stole precious war medals.

Forensic scientists spent Monday retracing the steps of thieves who stole New Zealand's most treasured military medals from the Army Museum in Waiouru.

Poring over ground around the back of the museum, they were looking for footprints and dusting railings for fingerprints.

The thieves broke in through a fire escape at the back of the building and were in and out in about three minutes.

"It was a very quick burglary and once again it's an indication of some degree of planning and expertise," said Inspector Steve Mastrovich, Ruapehu Police.

While the perpetrators might have got away, both army and police are now concentrating on bringing the medals back to the museum.

"We are still examining the surveillance footage from the cameras in the museum and we don't have anything significant that we can release at this stage," said Mastrovich.

The stolen medals include Charles Upham's Victoria Cross and bar for extraordinary bravery in combat in World War Two, two George medals and one Albert medal.

"Someone out there knows about this. Someone will know who did this terrible crime... the nation wants them back," said Colonel Raymond Seymour, Army Museum Director.

"My plea is get them back. Hand them into an authority as soon as possible," he said.

The Prime Minister has also condemned the theft.

"The men who earned those medals performed outstanding acts of heroism and to think that someone would specifically target them for a theft like that appals everybody," Helen Clark said

The medals were stolen just after 1am on Sunday, when thieves walked up the small stairwell at the back of the museum, smashed the glass in the fire escape and then went into the valour annex, where the priceless Victoria Crosses were kept.

After smashing their way through that they left through the same exit.

Over the last 30 years five VCs have been stolen from museums, none have been recovered. And it appears there is a lucrative market for the medals.

Alan Polaschek, war historian, says together Sunday's haul is worth about $10 to $12 million.

But authorities hope the stolen medals never get to market.

Anyone with information can call police on 0800 349 0606.