A teenager in Australia has been charged after the theft of game-worn shirts from Manly Sea Eagles newest signing Jaxson Paulo.
The theft had been reported by Paulo’s father, Andrew, who took to social media after the alleged burglary took place last week on the Gold Coast, with many of his son’s most prized shirts having disappeared.
In his social media post that was shared on Facebook, Andrew asked: “Please I’m asking anyone in the community and the NRL community to share this post.
“These [jerseys] are priceless to our family and the sentimental value has caused huge sadness for me and my wife.
“I would ask the thieves or anyone who has seen or know the whereabouts of the jerseys to kindly return them or leave them somewhere they can be returned to us.
“Please we don’t want anyone hurt, we are just praying they return my families treasures.
“No nasty comments please, we just want the jerseys returned.”
Jaxson Paulo had just made the switch to Manly after spending his career so far with South Sydney Rabbitohs and their rivals Sydney Roosters.
The 24-year-old who can play centre or wing has also represented Samoa, playing once during the mid-season internationals in June last year bagging a try in that game against the Cook Islands
Many sports fans will be able to relate to the feeling of passion for a specific jersey or shirt, potentially dubbing it as a ‘lucky shirt’, or attributing a favourite number, but for such treasures as your son’s game-worn NRL jersey’s to be allegedly burgled is awful.
Queensland Police have now updated the situation though, issuing a statement to confirm that a 19-year-old man had been charged following an alleged break at a private address.
The statement read: “Between 11pm on November 21 and 6am on November 22, an alleged break in occurred at an address in Highland Park, where a number of personal items were stolen.
“A 19-year-old Redbank Plains man on November 24 was charged with the break-in.
“He faced Ipswich Magistrates Court on November 28 and was remanded in custody to next appear in court on December 5.”
The initial post by Paulo’s father revealed that among the jerseys taken there was a framed Rabbitohs NRL debut jersey, a framed Rabbitohs under 20s Grand Final jersey, a Rabbitohs indigenous jersey, whilst also revealing one of his daughter’s shirts had also been taken.
He has since provided an update stating: “Jaxson’s debut jersey was handed in to police last night.
“We as a family are so grateful to all our family, friends, police, news platforms and the wider NRL community for sharing, posting keeping an eye out and for the well wishes we received.
“We are still hoping for the return of my daughters jersey and other Rabbitohs jersey but wanted to let you all know that we have got Jax’s debut jersey back.
“Sincerely grateful.”
Below is Paulo’s father’s initial appeal.
