Reward offer after jewellery stolen

A prominent Queenstown home owner is offering a "substantial" reward for information after more than $80,000 worth of property was stolen in a daring burglary.

The Kelvin Heights home owner, who declined to be named, said a significant amount of cash and jewellery was taken from his house last week.

"Almost all of my wife’s jewellery has been scooped completely — rings, gold chains, necklaces, diamonds, watches — to the extent of $55,000 worth.

"It’s a significant amount of jewellery which she has been acquiring since the early 1970s.

"Some of it is from our 50th wedding anniversary, birthdays, and from when we travelled to South Africa and southern Europe."

He said some rare All Black clothing had also been taken, along with a "significant" amount of cash.

"I’d just been to the bank and got some US dollars because I’m going to the United States in early January."

He said various other currencies were taken as well.

"They were hidden in a particular place but it wasn’t secure.

"You'd almost think it’s somebody who might have known where to look, who had been in the house before.

"It’s quite specific what they took — jewellery and watches."

He said the property was insured but it would not replace a lot of the jewellery that was taken.

"I’m bloody furious and my wife is completely devastated because a lot of sentimental stuff was taken.

"One, in particular, was a 1909 gold half sovereign which she had mounted on a chain. My father gave it to her. It’s irreplaceable."

He said they had lived in Kelvin Heights for nearly 30 years, and this was the first time they had been burgled.

While it was distressing for him and his wife, he said he was a "realist".

"I keep saying to my wife, 'It’s not fatal'."

In a bid to help Queenstown police catch those responsible, he had offered a "substantial" reward to anyone who could provide them with information about where his property had ended up.

Sergeant Keith Newell, of Queenstown, said another burglary was reported over the weekend, in which about $7000 worth of jewellery was taken from a Douglas St property in Frankton.

Police inquiries into both incidents were continuing, he said.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz


 

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