Two stolen AFL premiership medals will return to their rightful proprietor as an alleged burglar is taken off the streets.
Richmond participant Shai Bolton’s 2019 and 2020 medals had been stolen from his residence at Malvern in Melbourne’s southeast throughout a theft in December 2022 whereas he was interstate.
The medals had been discovered on Tuesday throughout a search of a house at Seaford as a part of a probe right into a sequence of robberies, Victoria Police confirmed.
“An investigation is underway to find out how they got here to be within the man’s possession,” a police spokesperson stated.
The medals had been discovered throughout an unrelated investigation into an “alleged prolific burglar” and robberies at greater than 30 companies in 2024, police stated.
Police allege Brodie Knott used a sledgehammer to smash the doorways and home windows of cafes, bakeries and eating places in Melbourne’s southeast throughout a two-month spree, stealing $6000 price of products.
The 36-year-old was arrested and charged with 104 offences together with 29 counts every of housebreaking, going outfitted with a sledgehammer to commit an offence, and legal injury and 17 counts of theft.
He fronted Moorabbin Magistrates Courtroom on Tuesday afternoon when his try for bail failed.
(Picture by Darrian Traynor/Getty Photographs)
Police opposed bail primarily based on the “unacceptable threat” Knott posed to the neighborhood having dedicated these offences whereas on bail.
“Our issues are that he’ll proceed to offend to feed his ongoing drug behavior,” Senior Constable Rebecca Mayoll informed the court docket.
“Regardless of being on bail, he continued to commit burglaries throughout a number of areas, inflicting a major quantity of stress to every of the focused companies throughout a time of economic instability.”
In denying bail, Justice of the Peace Rob Stary accepted earlier jail stints had not helped Knott’s in depth drug historical past however stated the accused remained an unacceptable threat of endangering neighborhood security.
“It’s a stark reminder that generally imprisonment, though it would fulfill the lust for retribution, doesn’t cope with defending the neighborhood,” he stated.
Detective Sergeant Grant Lewis stated he was “extraordinarily happy” the medals had been discovered as a consequence of their sentimental worth.
“We sit up for reuniting the medals with their rightful proprietor, given the importance profitable a flag would maintain for each him and his household,” he stated.
An AFL spokesman confirmed the medals had been verified and can be returned to Bolton.
“An AFL premiership medal is among the most cherished awards in our sport and we all know how devastated Shai was once they had been stolen,” Jay Allen stated.
Knott will return to court docket on Monday.
© AAP
