It can only be described as a terrible start to the year for Margaret Bedwell after precious family heirlooms were stolen in a break and enter at her South Penrith home on January 2.
After a long day at work, Ms Bedwell and her partner returned home from work at around 5pm on Wednesday, January 2, to find that the front door of their house in Dallas Avenue, South Penrith, was open. “We realised that someone had been through the house and when we checked on the safe, hidden in a cupboard in the bedroom, we saw that the whole safe had been removed and stolen,” she said.
Amongst the contents were passports, a sum of cash, but most importantly, the war medals that were earned by Ms Bedwell’s grandfather, Arthur Mallindine when he served in the British Army during World War Two. “My grandfather served in the British eighth army in North Africa and was involved in the invasion of Italy. He was also at Dunkirk (France) and was one of the soldiers evacuated,” she said.
The medals are irreplaceable and include a Star of Italy for his services in the Second World War. “We had a lot of money in the safe but the main thing is we just want the medals returned… Even if they were placed in our mailbox,” Ms Bedwell said. She is particularly saddened because she had been minding the medals in the safe for her brother. “You think a safe is ‘safe’ but I guess not always… my brother and mother are very upset by all of this.” Ms Bedwell even had to cancel her holiday to the Sunshine Coast because of the break and enter.
Penrith Police are investigating the robbery and forensic testing on fingerprints collected at the scene is being conducted. Any information on the robbery should be reported to Penrith Police on 4721 9444.
