AN ARMY veteran was left devastated after burglars stole an irreplaceable service medal while he slept.

Sammy and Wai Chan, both retired, were sleeping in their home in Windsor Gardens, Braintree, along with their two grandsons aged ten and 12, when burglars broke in and stole priceless items.

Along with an engraved medal for long service, they also took Mr Chan’s two Army red books, two Buddha statues that the family worship, a PlayStation 4 and sensitive documents including bank statements and payslips.

Their daughter Katie Chan, who also lives in the house, said although the family was burgled on August 16, her father has only just realised his briefcase with the medal inside had been taken.

He had hoped to pass the medal on to his grandchildren as a family keepsake.

She said: “My mum got up in the morning, she saw the light was on downstairs and the front door was open. The burglars didn’t close it behind them in case it woke them up.

“I was away at the time and my parents discovered that two Buddha statues were taken.

They weren’t made of real gold but my mum got really upset about that because we are Buddhist.

My son’s PlayStation 4 was stolen so he was crying, we got that for him for Christmas.

“My dad keeps his life in his briefcase – his payslips, certificates and most importantly his Army bits. It’s all memories and has sentimental value because his long service medal was in there.”

Mr Chan first joined the British Army in Hong Kong as a member of the military police in 1975.

He had two red books, which document service history, after re-joining the service having taken early retirement. Both have now been stolen.

The British Army says on its website the red books can never be replaced and if lost or destroyed a confirmation of service will only be provided in letter form.

Miss Chan is now also worried about identity theft after sensitive documents were taken.

She said: “His bank statements and National Insurance number were in there so he had to report those missing, which is a bit of a headache.

“The briefcase is non-branded and is in an 80s style with a hard case and his name Sammy on it.

It has a lock on it but it wasn’t locked at the time.

“Police came out immediately but there were no fingerprints.”

The medal is engraved with Mr Chan’s details – SGT SWM CHAN RMP. Anyone with information should call 101.