Burglars steal rare coins, precious metals

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Burglars lucked into a hoard of precious metals and rare coins when they stole a steel case from a rural Porirua house earlier this month.

However, the thieves would have a hard time selling their loot - its former owner was a well-known antique collector and the unusual items were only traded by a small circle of people, said Constable Damian Parker of Porirua police.

Items taken in the Pauatahanui heist two weeks ago included four 5-kilogram silver bars, a 10oz gold bar, 80 gold sovereigns and 50 half sovereign coins and more than 260 other Australian, British and Canadian coins.

The thieves also took a flat-screen television, a surround sound system and jewellery, which indicated the burglary was one of opportunity, rather than planning, Mr Parker said.

He would not say how much the stolen valuables were worth, but the said they were worth a "considerable amount".

"It is an unusual burglary - we don't often get this type of thing," he told NZPA.

Police had circulated descriptions of the stolen items to collectors and antiques dealers across New Zealand.

"Any attempts to move this stuff are going to be noticed," he said.

- NZPA