Wellington, Feb 12 NZPA - A curator who stole rifles, bayonets, swords and other weapons from Waiouru Army Museum has been sacked after being convicted of theft.

Malcolm Stewart (Joe) Evans, 46, pleaded guilty in Palmerston North District Court in November last year to three charges of theft after an 1890s Enfield sniper rifle, valued at $10,000, and two bayonets were found at his Waiouru home last July, The Dominion Post reported today.

Evans was sentenced to four months' home detention and has since been dismissed from his job.

The museum had not been aware the items were missing, but when their absence was discovered, a complaint was laid with police, museum director Colonel Ray Seymour said.

Security had since been tightened and an inventory of the museum's collections was being done, he said.

In 2007, 96 medals, including nine Victoria Crosses, were stolen in a break-in at the museum, but later returned.

The two incidents were unrelated.

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