A CHAMPION karate fighter is offering a £500 reward for the return of his stolen St Christopher pendant and chain, a gift from his parents.
Darren Chan's necklace is thought to have been stolen in a burglary of his home in Godstone Road, Purley, last Wednesday morning, alongside other items.
The 36-year-old said the pendant featuring the patron saint of travelling was engraved with the words 'To Darren, Love Mum and Dad, 1998'.
Mr Chan, who represented Great Britain at last year's International Federation of Karate world tournament, added: "I travel around the world competing and my mother gave me the St Christopher to keep me safe while travelling.
"It is Victorian so it is very old. But it is not about the money, rather the sentimental value.
"I don't get to see my parents that much because of my competitions, so this is really precious."
The father of five said: "A lot of thought and effort went into it. I really want to get it back."
Mr Chan said he returned home last Wednesday morning to find the front door open and items including a designer watch missing from his bedroom.
He recalled: "I am a personal trainer and a client had cancelled so I came home and found the front door wide open. Someone had gone up to the bedroom where my watches and jewellery and stuff was.
"They had looked at the camera – taken it out of its bag, but did not take it. They took the gifts for the children's christening last year."
The burglary must have taken place between 9.30am and 11.30am, added Mr Chan, who also runs the Fight Factory gym in Purley.
He continued: "My wife had bought me a nice watch at Christmas but I said to her that can be replaced, I had not yet grown sentimentally attached to it, whereas the St Christopher I had for 16 years."
Mr Chan added he had reported the theft to police but that he was not very hopeful they would be able to find the culprits, given the lack of CCTV evidence. He is offering the £500 reward for the safe return of the necklace.
To return the St Christopher, contact Mr Chan on 07719 028638.
A Met spokesman said: "Detectives are investigating a burglary during the morning of Wednesday, 7 May in which a quantity of jewellery was stolen, including the St Christopher which is recorded as being of huge sentimental value to the suspect.
