'Priceless' and 'irreplaceable' medals belonging to victim's great grandad dating back to 1800s stolen in Southampton as police hunt burglar responsible

By Freddie Webb
Published 22nd Jul 2022, 14:11 BST
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‘PRICELESS’ medals and other valuables were stolen from a great grandad in Hampshire.

The commemorations dated back to the late 1800s and were taken last Sunday.

A burglar entered the property in Dover Street, Southampton, through the back door, after going through a rear garden in Bath Street.

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PC Sparks, of Hampshire police, described the bowls medals - won between 1890 and 1898 - as 'priceless' and 'irreplaceable'. Picture: Hampshire Constabulary.PC Sparks, of Hampshire police, described the bowls medals - won between 1890 and 1898 - as 'priceless' and 'irreplaceable'. Picture: Hampshire Constabulary.
PC Sparks, of Hampshire police, described the bowls medals - won between 1890 and 1898 - as 'priceless' and 'irreplaceable'. Picture: Hampshire Constabulary.

Items worth roughly £1800 were taken from the address.

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Ten bowls medals belonging to the occupant’s great-granddad were among the stolen valuables.

One of them is a William IV £2 coin, made of 22 carat gold.

A Lumix TZ100 camera and a Panasonic DMC camera, worth £900 between them, were also pilfered.

Hampshire police have released a CCTV image of the man they wish to speak to in relation to the burglary. Picture: Hampshire Constabulary.Hampshire police have released a CCTV image of the man they wish to speak to in relation to the burglary. Picture: Hampshire Constabulary.
Hampshire police have released a CCTV image of the man they wish to speak to in relation to the burglary. Picture: Hampshire Constabulary.

The man used stolen debit and credit cards from the address at a nearby Esso garage, on Lodge Road.

Hampshire Constabulary released a CCTV image of the male they wish to speak to.

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PC Sparks said: ‘These medals are priceless to their owner and we are hoping you can help us reunite him with an important piece of his family history.

‘His great-grandfather was a founding member of county bowls in Hampshire, and won the medals between 1890 and 1898 – so these precious heirlooms are irreplaceable.

‘We are also releasing a CCTV image of a man we would like to speak to in connection with this incident. If you are in the image, or know who he is, please get in touch.’

Anyone with information is advised to call 101, quoting 44220286558.