PAKENHAM Returned and Services League members are grateful that medals stolen in a breakin at the club in late January have been returned.
Subbranch president Norm Joseph thanked the Pakenham Police for their speedy recovery of most of the irreplaceable war medals and insignia that were taken.
Only a small number of the medals and insignia are yet to be recovered.
“The work of Detective Senior Constable Rhys Holder is very gratefully appreciated,” Mr Joseph said.
“Although the damage to our building was comparatively small it was a hardship on our financial resources, especially as our insurance cover would not forgo the $1000 excess on the policy,” he said.
The burglary occurred between Friday 26 January and the following Monday.
Apart from the theft of medals and insignia, furniture was thrown around the room and beer taken from the fridge and empty cans left inside the club.
Assistance from community members has enabled the club to cover the cost of changing locks on the building and making repairs to a damaged window.
Mr Joseph said: “The Pakenham RSL want to most sincerely thank Brendon Theobald of the Pakenham Hotel and Jack Hurrey of the Pakenham Sports Club Inc for so quickly coming to our rescue and covering the cost of the lock changes and repairs.”