Richmond star Shai Bolton is set to be reunited with his premiership medals after police recovered the stolen items.
Bolton’s Malvern home was broken into on December 18, 2022, and the burglars left with his 2019 and 2020 premiership medals.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Shai Bolton set to be reunited with medals.
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The 25-year-old was in Perth at the time and after initial investigations made no progress, the Tiger made a public plea for help in April last year.
But it wasn’t until now — some 20 months after they were stolen — that the medals have been found.
Police released a statement confirming the prized items were uncovered during a search warrant in Seaford, relating to a spree of burglaries.
The medals’ authenticity have been verified at AFL House, but they won’t be returned to Bolton until the court process has been finished.
Police made the discovery following an “unrelated investigation into almost 30 alleged commercial burglaries at cafes, bakeries and restaurants in Brighton, Chelsea Heights, Dingley Village, Hampton, and Sandringham between 20 July and 15 August this year”.
Police will allege a sledgehammer was used to smash the doors and windows of the businesses.
A 36-year-old man was arrested and has since been charged with 104 offences, including 29 counts of burglary, 29 counts of criminal damage and 17 counts of theft, as well as theft of a motor vehicle.
“Given the sentimental value attached to these medals, we were extremely pleased to uncover them during our search warrant today, Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Grant Lewis said.
“We look forward to reuniting the medals with their rightful owner, given the significance winning a flag would hold for both him and his family.
“This morning’s warrant was the culmination of a police investigation into an alleged burglary spree across south-east Melbourne, where over 30 businesses were also targeted.”
The AFL thanked the police for finding the cherished medals.
“An AFL premiership medal is one of the most cherished awards in our game and we know how devastated Shai was when they were stolen,” spokesperson Jay Allen said.
“On behalf of everyone at the AFL and the Richmond Football Club, we thank the Victoria Police for locating his 2019 and 2020 medals, which we verified today and look forward to getting them back to Shai shortly.”
Bolton faces an uncertain future at Richmond despite being contracted until the end of 2028.
He has been heavily linked to a move back to Western Australia, with Fremantle seen as his likely landing spot.