[CPProt.net] New Zealand: Man charged over art works thefts

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Man charged over art works thefts
 15 September 2005
  
Auckland man charged with receiving valuable pounamu carving also charged
with theft of five paintings  
 
 
An Auckland man charged with receiving a pounamu carving stolen from
Queenstown has also been arrested over five paintings missing from the
resort.

The 29-year-old Whangaparoa man is charged with receiving the $100,000 Maori
war canoe representation, stolen from the Opal Centre four years ago. Police
found it buried in Queenstown's central business district early this month.

He also faces 21 other burglary charges, including the theft of five
paintings valued at $3,300 from Queenstown's St Moritz Hotel, also in 2001.
Police recovered these from a Queenstown house last year. The house was
being demolished when a false garage floor revealed the stolen art works.

The man will appear in the North Shore District Court on October 19. 



 New Zealand City Limited