A war veteran has been left heartbroken after his war medals were stolen from his Sutton home.

The 88-year-old victim who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s displayed the medals in his hallway next to the front door.

His carer and neighbour, who has known him for 25 years, noticed on June 25 that the frame had disappeared and reported it to the police.

The medals include five military medals awarded between 1939 and 1945. The man served in the Royal Tank Regiment between 1941 and 1947. He was a Captain and was awarded the Military Cross and two Star Medals.

Two other medals in the frame included the Pope John Paul II Papal Cross to commemorate 31 years as headmaster at St Mary’s High School, West Croydon, from 1953 to 1987.

Detectives have found no sign of forced entry into his property, although the victim sometimes leaves his front door open when he is in the back garden.

It is not clear at this stage when the frame was taken. It is thought that it could have gone missing between May 25 - 28.

Detective Con Mark Cooper, of Sutton’s Burglary and Robbery Investigation Team, urged anyone with information about the medals to come forward so they can be returned to their owner.

He said: “All the victim wants is his medals back as they are of huge sentimental value.

“Someone may recognise these medals and may have been offered them to buy or even purchased them or know their whereabouts.”

If you have any information please call Sutton’s Burglary and Robbery Investigation Team on 020 8649 0777 of call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.