Six war medals stolen from Cranbourne North home

UPDATE: The sentimental value of war medals stolen from a Cranbourne North home far exceeds any monetary value, according to local RSL president.

The six stolen medals are an African Star, Pacific Star, Star 39-45, Defence Medal, War Medal 39-45 and Australian Service Medal 29-45. Picture: Victoria Police

WAR medals stolen from a Cranbourne North home while their ailing elderly owner was in hospital provide a priceless link to those they were awarded to.

The medals were awarded to the victim’s relatives who had served in the Australian Army and recognised their service during World War Two.

Cranbourne RSL president John Wells described the theft as a “low act”.

“Their monetary value is far outweighed by the sentimental value of these medals,” he said on Wednesday.

“These medals tell a story — they cannot be bought, they are something that has to be earned.”

Knowing little about the theft or the owner of the medals, Mr Wells said it was a tragedy when medals were stolen.

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He said the African and Pacific Star would likely mean the recipient faced “tough” times on the front line in Northern Africa before being brought closer to home when Australia was under threat.

“They would have been enlisted for a fair while — including taking part in the jungle war against the Japanese,” he said.

“World War II medals aren’t that rare, but most of the servicemen who earned them are gone. “They’re thin on the ground.”

John Wells President of the Cranbourne RSL. Picture: Susan Windmiller

Hoping the perpetrator would return the medals, Mr Wells offered for them to be returned to the Cranbourne RSL anonymously with no questions asked.

“If that would help bring them back to the owner, we’d definitely do that,” he said.

“Especially in the lead up to Anzac Day, it would be great if we could get them back.”

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Police say the medals were stolen sometime between 3 and 7 March from the Kellett Street home.

“Some inquiries have been made into some similar ones that we’re finding at second hand dealers which is disturbing but we haven’t come across these particular ones,” Leading Senior Constable Michelle Chan told 3AW

The six medals are an African Star, Pacific Star, Star 39-45, Defence Medal, War Medal 39-45 and Australian Service Medal 29-45.

Investigators have released an image of the medals in the hope they will be returned to their owner.

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