Luton: Olympic Medal Stolen

29 August 2012, 14:17

Bedfordshire Police is appealing to the public for help after a pensioner had a valuable chain and an Olympic medal taken from him.

The incident happened as the victim was walking along Beechwood Road close to the junction of Waller Avenue, Luton at approximately 11am on Thursday 23rd August. 

The 74 year-old victim was approached by two black women and an Asian woman who insisted he try on a necklace they were selling. The Asian woman put the chain around the victim's neck even though he was protesting. He told her to remove it but as she did the woman also took the victim's chain and the attached medallions with her. 

The Asian woman is described as being between 45 and 50 years of age, 5'6" tall with a stocky build, wearing a jumper and a sari style skirt which she lifted and exposed herself to the victim before leaving the scene. The other two offenders were described as black women; one of which was approximately 5'8" tall. 

The officer in charge of this investigation, PC Helen Summers, is keen to trace the victim's jewellery or anyone who saw the incident. PC Summers told Heart: "The victim's chain belonged to his Grandmother and is 200 years old. On the chain there were two medallions one of which was originally awarded to the victim's brother in law after he had participated in the Olympics in the 1970s for bowling. The medal has an inscription on the back in Italian and would be easy to identify. Clearly these items are of huge sentimental value to the victim as they can never be replaced. I would appeal to anyone who saw the incident or anyone who may have been offered this jewellery for sale to contact the police so we can re-unite this property with its rightful owner." 

If you have information about this crime you can contact PC Summers, in confidence, at Bedfordshire Police on 101 or text information to 07786 200011. Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.