War historians are pleading for the return of significant historical items linked to Sir Edward Weary Dunlop stolen during a burglary at Toorak earlier this week.

More than a dozen war medals as well as letters to and from Sir Edward were in a safe that was stolen from the Williams Road property between Sunday and Monday night.

Chair of the Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation, Robert Winther, says there will be community “outrage” if the items are not returned.

Press PLAY below to hear Mr Winther’s thoughts on the brazen theft

“You sort of think ‘What would Weary think?’. I think he’d like to grab them by the scruff of the neck, but the heat that will be applied will be incredible,” he told Tony Jones, filling in for Neil Mitchell.

“I’d like to think that these people, once they realise what they’ve done, might hunt somebody out … hand them over and put them back where they belong.”

About $30,000 worth of jewellery and electronics were also stolen.

Image: Victoria Police / Australian War Memorial