KEY POINTS:
Sam Cunningham will always remember his 21st birthday - but not for good reasons.
The Blockhouse Bay resident returned from Wellington on Monday to find two Queen's Service Medals belonging to his great-grandfather, and other items missing.
The medals were awarded to former Lower Hutt City (now Hutt City) councillor Sam Chesney for community service in 1976. Mr Chesney died a year after receiving them.
The medals, greenstone pendants and pocket watches were worth about $12,000.
The burglars seemed to have entered through a bathroom window.
"I was gutted, they had so much sentimental value attached to them," he said.
"I turned 21 last week so it was not a good birthday present to receive."
The police have advised Mr Cunningham to keep an eye out for the items surfacing on Trade Me or at pawn shops.
One of the medals was about the size of an old 50c piece and the other the size of a 10c coin.
In front the medals had the New Zealand coat of arms and says 'Queen's Service Medal for Community Service'. Queen Elizabeth's profile was on the other side.
They were displayed in a red velvet case with gold lettering on it.
Mr Cunningham said of his great-grandfather: "He was a man that worked hard for his community in order to make it a better place for all of those in it. To think that someone has stolen the award for his life's work is extremely devastating to my family."
He wants the medals returned "no questions asked" and is also prepared to offer a reward.
