Prized war medals stolen from NSW veteran

An Australian war veteran is extremely upset after his seven service medals were stolen from his Sydney home.

The 73-year-old digger last saw the medals in a chest of drawers in his Balmain unit on June 16.

Police say when he went to look for them on Sunday, they were gone.

Among the prized possessions are active service infantry gold medals from Thailand and south east Asia, an infantry combat defence force medal and a war medal from service in Borneo.

Leichhardt police Inspector Grant Watson said the loss of the medals had been very upsetting for the owner.

"The gentleman who was the victim is very saddened by the theft of his medals," he said.

"As a war veteran they have significant meaning to him and we hope members of the public are able to assist by providing police with any information about the location of the medals."