Crook returns ‘stolen’ MBE awarded by King George V

Police are appealing to find the owner of a “stolen” MBE which was awarded by King George V. It was given to West Midlands Police by a man they described as a “prolific burglar”.

Officers tried to find where the MBE was stolen but were unable to find out who it belonged to, West Midlands Police said. It is believed to have been “passed down a family generation”.

Police have recovered the MBE from a person participating in the No Crime Program. Burglars are given a suspended sentence if they admit previous offenses and return the stolen goods, West Midlands Police said.

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PC Paul Welch said: “It is potentially over 80 years old and so we believe it could have been passed on by whoever actually received the award.”

Police said the MBE was awarded by King George V, who reigned from 1910 to 1936. After failing to trace where and when it was stolen, they are now appealing to the public for help to find the owner ” the prestigious” award. .

PC Welch said: “We have tried to contact the potential owners and have also spoken to St James’s Palace but have so far been unable to identify the owner. It’s a prestigious award, so we’d like to reunite it with its owner.

“Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting crime reference number 20/514878/23.”

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