Two stolen AFL premiership medals will return to their rightful owner as an alleged burglar is taken off the streets.
Richmond player Shai Bolton's 2019 and 2020 medals were stolen from his home at Malvern in Melbourne's southeast during a robbery in December 2022 while he was interstate.
The medals were found on Tuesday during a search of a home at Seaford as part of a probe into a series of robberies, Victoria Police confirmed.
"An investigation is under way to determine how they came to be in the man’s possession," a police spokesperson said.
The medals were found during an unrelated investigation into an "alleged prolific burglar" and robberies at more than 30 businesses in 2024, police said.
Police allege Brodie Knott used a sledgehammer to smash the doors and windows of cafes, bakeries and restaurants in Melbourne's southeast during a two-month spree, stealing $6000 worth of goods.
The 36-year-old was arrested and charged with 104 offences including 29 counts each of burglary, going equipped with a sledgehammer to commit an offence, and criminal damage and 17 counts of theft.
He fronted Moorabbin Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon when his attempt for bail failed.
Police opposed bail based on the "unacceptable risk" Knott posed to the community having committed these offences while on bail.
“Our concerns are that he will continue to offend to feed his ongoing drug habit," Senior Constable Rebecca Mayoll told the court.
"Despite being on bail, he continued to commit burglaries across multiple regions, causing a significant amount of stress to each of the targeted businesses during a time of financial instability."
In denying bail, Magistrate Rob Stary accepted previous prison stints had not helped Knott's extensive drug history but said the accused remained an unacceptable risk of endangering community safety.
"It's a stark reminder that sometimes imprisonment, although it might satisfy the lust for retribution, doesn't deal with protecting the community," he said.
Detective Sergeant Grant Lewis said he was "extremely pleased" the medals were found due to their sentimental value.
“We look forward to reuniting the medals with their rightful owner, given the significance winning a flag would hold for both him and his family," he said.
An AFL spokesman confirmed the medals had been verified and would be returned to Bolton.
“An AFL premiership medal is one of the most cherished awards in our game and we know how devastated Shai was when they were stolen," Jay Allen said.
Knott will return to court on Monday.
