Four Olympic medals – including three gold – belonging to one of the members of Australia’s popular “Oarsome Foursome” rowing team have been stolen from a car in Melbourne.
Victoria police said Drew Ginn’s medals from four consecutive Olympics were in the back of a Land Rover that was parked on Cumberland Street in Docklands when they were stolen last week.
Detectives believe the medals, along with a Go Pro camera, headphones and a wetsuit, were stolen sometime between 9pm Thursday and 5am Friday.
According to police, Ginn had left the medals in his car as he had a speaking engagement at a school.
“These are unbelievably rare items with significant sentimental value,” Det Sgt Timothy Reiher from the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Olympic medals are awarded to the best of the best and are priceless to their recipients.
“We ask that people look out for these medals in pawn shops and online selling platforms.”
Ginn told ABC Radio Melbourne he hoped the medals would be returned.
“They’ve got a lot of value for family and friends but you can’t insure them,” he said.
He said the medals had been “hidden away in the car, but the car was ransacked completely so lots of stuff was broken and destroyed”.
Ginn had won the medals over the course of 16 years, beginning at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and continuing through to the London Olympics in 2012.
Police have released a photo of the medals as they investigate the theft.