Coronavirus patient is reunited with stolen Light Dragoons medals taken during burglary

A war veteran who had medals stolen by burglars has been reunited with the items, after being discharged from intensive care to treat coronavirus.

The man, who does not want to be identified, has said he is "over the moon" after sentimental possessions stolen from his home back in January were discovered on a roadside in North Yorkshire last week, leading police to issue a social media appeal to trace the owners.

The medals were stolen in a burglary at the man's home in Barnsley, along with a jewellery box containing his daughter's first teeth.

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The jewellery box, which also contained a commemorative coin stating, "Paige's 1st teeth", was recovered alongside the medals which were discovered by a dog walker near to Eggborough Power Station in North Yorkshire on Thursday.

Sergeant Rob Campbell of Selby District Neighbourhood Policing Team shortly before the medals were returned to their owner in BarnsleySergeant Rob Campbell of Selby District Neighbourhood Policing Team shortly before the medals were returned to their owner in Barnsley
Sergeant Rob Campbell of Selby District Neighbourhood Policing Team shortly before the medals were returned to their owner in Barnsley

Officers returned to the area with a police dog, recovering all the items that had been left in the grassy verge including a watch inscribed with the words, "To Thomas Love Dad".

North Yorkshire Police posted pictures of all the items discovered on their Facebook page shortly later.

A spokesman for the force said today (Thursday) that a relative of the family who were burgled got in contact less than two hours after the appeal was posted to claim the medals and jewellery box.

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The owner of the medals, who wishes to remain anonymous, had just been discharged from ICU after being treated for the coronavirus when he heard that his medals had been found.

All the items recovered by North Yorkshire Police from a roadside in Eggborough. Among them include a watch inscribed with, "To Thomas, Love Dad" which has yet to be claimed.All the items recovered by North Yorkshire Police from a roadside in Eggborough. Among them include a watch inscribed with, "To Thomas, Love Dad" which has yet to be claimed.
All the items recovered by North Yorkshire Police from a roadside in Eggborough. Among them include a watch inscribed with, "To Thomas, Love Dad" which has yet to be claimed.

He said: “I am over the moon as I did not expect to see my medals again – they mean so much to me as they represent my 22 years of service with The Light Dragoons.”

Police Investigator Dave Pegg, Burglary Coordinators for North Yorkshire Police, said restoring the items to their rightful owner was "one of the best parts of the job", but added that the search was still underway for the owners of the other items discovered on the roadside.

He said: “It was an incredible find by both the dog walker and one of our officers and within minutes of us sharing the appeal on Facebook, I was inundated with emails offering helpful advice on how we could help to identify the owners of the medals.

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“Luckily, a relative of the family who’d been burgled recognised the stolen items from the appeal on Facebook and within two hours they’d be in touch.

The area where the items were discovered near to Eggborough Power Station.The area where the items were discovered near to Eggborough Power Station.
The area where the items were discovered near to Eggborough Power Station.

“It’s one of the best parts of the job being able to reunite victims of burglary with their belongings, especially when they are as irreplaceable and sentimental as a set of medals.

“The power of social media has once again been used for the greater good and I’d like to thank each and every one of our followers who took the time to comment on and share the post or provided information.

“In particular I’d like to give a big shout out to the fantastic community spirit and ‘brotherhood’ of The Light Dragoons as the vast majority of people who got in touch were either serving or veteran Dragoons – with one even offering to clean up the medals for the victim and another getting in touch all the way from Canada after seeing the appeal on a medal collector’s forum.

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“Day in and day out our followers on social media help us to make a difference in North Yorkshire – we couldn’t do it without them.”

All the items recovered by North Yorkshire Police from a roadside in Eggborough. Among them include a watch inscribed with, "To Thomas, Love Dad" which has yet to be claimed.All the items recovered by North Yorkshire Police from a roadside in Eggborough. Among them include a watch inscribed with, "To Thomas, Love Dad" which has yet to be claimed.
All the items recovered by North Yorkshire Police from a roadside in Eggborough. Among them include a watch inscribed with, "To Thomas, Love Dad" which has yet to be claimed.

The appeal to reunite the remaining items (pictured) with their owner is ongoing. One of the items, a Rotary watch, has an inscription ‘To Thomas Love Dad 1.11.95’ inscribed on it.

If you recognise any of the items pictured, or if you have any information that could help with the investigation, please contact North Yorkshire Police.