GUELPH — Moe Ferris is fuming. Frank Bayne can hardly contain himself.

And Frank Taylor is so upset, he didn't want to talk about the fact that his home was broken into late last week. Along with some cash and documents — including his birth certificate and discharge papers — the 93-year-old Second World War veteran also lost medals, jewelry and coins he has saved for some 70 years.

"It's a bloody disgrace," said Bayne, a war veteran who served in Korea. "Here's a man who served his country, served the people in his community. And then to have somebody steal his identity and his medals."

"To us it's a sacrilege," Ferris said. "You don't steal from poppy boxes, you don't steal Salvation Army kettles, and you don't harm a veteran.

"We earned those medals. We want those medals back."

Taylor served in the war with the Canada Army Service Corps. Bayne, Ferris and Taylor know each other through their connection to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 234. Ferris says veterans are up in arms over this theft, especially as it was so close to Remembrance Day.

Const. Mike Gatto with the Guelph Police Service, said the break-in and theft occurred some time Friday morning. Entry was gained through the rear of the house.

"It's a huge invasion of a person's personal safety that not only steals their belongings but their feeling of safety. To catch the person or people we need witnesses, evidence, anything we can get," Gatto said in an email.

Taylor has been the victim of a break in and theft at his home before. This time thieves got into his safe and cleaned it out, he said.

Fortunately some of his medals were already pinned to his uniform in advance of Remembrance Day, so he hasn't lost them all.