Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By Alesha Capone
THE grandson of a war veteran was delighted when Laverton police officers found his grandfather’s World War II medals last week, after they were allegedly stolen last month.
John Carr, 42, accepted the medals back in a hand-over ceremony at the Laverton police station on Thursday.
The medals were allegedly stolen when Mr Carr’s Williamstown North business was robbed on Valentine’s Day.
Luckily, Laverton-based Senior Constable Craig Wright and Senior Constable James Harris found the medals during a routine car check on Wednesday.
Sen Const Wright said Mr Carr “was very happy” when police telephoned and told him they had found the medals.
Sen Const Wright said the medals were found after he and Sen Const Harris did a routine car examination while they were on patrol near the Laverton railway station about 11.20pm.
“When Sen Const Harris pulled out the war medals, I was very surprised,” Sen Const Wright said.
The officers also found other goods allegedly stolen from Mr Carr, including jewellery, a passport, a digital camera and a mobile phone.
They also found tools, a small quantity of cash, cannabis and female underwear in the vehicle.
“It was fantastic to get the war medals back,” Sen Const Wright said.
“With stolen goods, we come across a lot of cameras, video equipment, televisions and phones, things which don’t mean a lot to people, so to recover the medals was great.”
After the incident, a 28-year-old man from Altona was charged with driving while disqualified, handling stolen goods, possessing proceeds of crimes and going equipped to steal.
He and a 30-year-old Altona woman have been bailed to appear at the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on 9 April.
