Medal thief methodical and articulate

The lead investigator in the Waiouru Army medal theft case describes one of the men who was sentenced yesterday as bright and methodical.

The man who has name suppression until at least Tuesday was sentenced in the Auckland District Court to 11 years in prison for theft and other fraud charges. He will serve a non-parole period of seven years.

Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann says the burglary was a real whodunnit and cannot be compared with any other crime. He says the offender, who has 159 other convictions, was methodical in his planning of the crime and articulate.

It has also been revealed the offenders got a speed camera ticket while travelling to the museum to carry out the robbery.