[MSN] New Zealand. Someone knows who took medals: museum director

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Someone knows who took medals: museum director

It is more than a month since treasured war medals were stolen from the
Waiouru Army Museum, but its director Colonel Raymond Seymour is confident
they will be found.

"I was hoping like hell they would turn up before today, but I still believe
these medals will surface."

Ninety-six medals were stolen when thieves broke into the museum on December
2, including nine Victoria Crosses, two George Crosses and an Albert Medal.

And though the thieves themselves might not realise the magnitude of their
crime, an accomplice would, Colonel Seymour said.

"I don't expect the scumbags who took the medals to put their hand up, but
someone involved in the crime or on the periphery will.

"Someone, somewhere, sometime will divulge that information."

Colonel Seymour was becoming more bitter about the theft by the day.

"I still lie in bed, I still can't get to sleep worrying myself sick as to
the low- lives that would dream this up.

"I can't understand the mentality of anyone who would take these medals."

The Army Museum was the most fitting place for such national taonga, he
said.

"They don't belong anywhere else, they don't belong in someone's cupboards
or drawers.

"Charles Upham didn't win two VCs for them to be stolen."

The valour alcove was still open - and the gaping holes where the medals
used to lie were making an impact on the visiting public, Colonel Seymour
said.

"I think I made the right decision to keep the valour alcove open, even
though the medals are gone.

"People are even more gutted to see the cupboards empty."

The bravery of the medal's recipients would always be remembered, thieves or
no thieves, he said.

"People died to win these medals, and no one will ever be able to take that
away."

Police are still hunting for a mid-to-late 1980s or early '90s light-
coloured station wagon spotted in the area around the time of the burglary.

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