War veteran devastated by theft of medals in apparent targeted attack

Robert Jordan fought in Afghanistan, East Timor and the South Pacific, and his great-grandfather and grandfather served in World War I and II.

The Huon man, 40, received seven medals for his 21 years in the army, which he kept in a grey Lockwood safe with the five medals his older relatives received for their service.

That safe was stolen from his home on Bryants Gap Road on January 28.

A $17,500 engagement ring, collectable knives and other items were also inside, but Mr Jordan said the 12 medals were especially important.

“They’ve been everything to me,” he said.

“There were citations, army combat badges and other stuff in there as well.

“I’m just hopeful I’ll get it all back.”

Mr Jordan suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression from his time in the defence force.

He started at Latchford Barracks at age 17 and is now heavily medicated to deal with the scars of war.

Those who broke into the home between 11.30am and 7.30pm knew what they were after.

“I think they’ve come in through a window, gone straight to the bedroom where the safe was, and left,” Mr Jordan said.

“There were iPads and other items on the couch – thousands of dollars of stuff sitting around – and they just targeted the safe.

“It was while I was playing cricket.

“Not many people know I play cricket on a Saturday afternoon.”

Mr Jordan, who is on a disability pension, encouraged those responsible to hand the items back. 

Detective Leading Senior Constable Tracy Jarrott is seeking help from the public to track down the items. 

“It would be nice to be able to get the medals back to their owner,” she said. 

“They're very sentimental to him. 

“The safe was bolted to the floor and they would have had to have used physical force to remove it. 

“It appears they knew the safe was there. 

"Whether they knew what was in the safe, I don't know.”

Call police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.