Blind Vic veteran robbed, burglar caught

A 90-year-old blind digger lay collapsed on the floor as a callous burglar stole his service medals and the ashes of his dead guide dog in Melbourne.

The burglar gained entry by smashing a rear window of the Ivanhoe property before being confronted by the completely blind WWII veteran on Friday morning.

The man then ransacked the house and fled with the medals, ashes and other items as the veteran lay collapsed on the floor.

But police received a tip-off from a local resident that a suspicious man was loitering around a nearby street after he knocked on the door of a house.

The occupants took a photograph of the man and followed him while on the phone to police.

Detectives followed the trail to Ivanhoe Railway Station, where the alleged offender was found still holding the stolen goods.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Beames said the information received from the resident was crucial in identifying the accused so quickly.

"This act of breaking into a blind 90-year-old digger's home, who has fought for our country, is appalling and un-Australian," he said.

A 37-year-old West Heidelberg man was taken to Heidelberg police station, where he is expected to be charged.