By KATH GANNAWAY
A VISITOR to Warburton is appealing for the return of a machete that was stolen from his tent during a camping trip on the weekend of 28-29 March.
Chris, who asked that his surname be withheld, told the Mail the World War II machete with distinctive markings was given to him as a gift from long-time friends in the 1990s.
“It belonged to a grandparent who brought it back from the war and who had passed on,” Chris said.
“It was given to me at the end of a stay with them and has been an invaluable part of my camping kit ever since,” he said.
He said the value to him was in its origins as a very special gift and in the memories it holds as part of numerous camping trips over the years.
The machete has a 14-inch blade with the letters D D and DC-44 stamped on the blade, as well as distinctive cross-hatching on the handle.
Chris said he was camping at Warburton Caravan Park with family and friends and awoke to find the camp site had been ransacked and the machete taken from inside their tent.
“It was unnerving to think they had reached into the tent, but also to think about what they could do with something like that,” he said.
Senior Constable Rob Firns of Warburton police said they are very keen to locate the machete and return it.
“The sentimental value is the real value of this item,” he said, adding that whoever took it may not have been aware of what they were taking.
Anyone with information can phone Warburton police on 5966 2005 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Alternatively the machette can be left at the police station anonymously and it will be returned to the owner.
