Olympic bronze medal theft: Hannah Macleod's 'relief' at return - BBC News

26 October 2012 Last updated at 15:45 ET

TeamGB hockey player Hannah Macleod said it was a "huge relief" her stolen Olympic bronze medal had been returned.

The medal was posted anonymously to the England Hockey head office at Bisham Abbey in Buckinghamshire.

It was one of two Olympic bronze medals stolen from a London nightclub when Macleod and rower Alex Partridge left their jackets unattended on Wednesday.

Partridge's jacket was handed in at a north-west London police station on Thursday but not the medal.

The thefts happened at the Mahiki nightclub in Mayfair after the Queen hosted an event at Buckingham Palace to celebrate London 2012 athletes.

Twitter publicity

Macleod, who plays for Leicester Ladies, had said in a message on Twitter on Wednesday she was "totally devastated".

Although still to be reunited with her medal, she thanked everyone who had helped publicise the thefts.

She said: "I can't thank you enough. I think all of you played a part in encouraging whoever had my medal to return it.

"Given the huge impact the Olympic Games has had on London and the UK, I always held hope that it would be returned but it's still incredible to know now I have my medal back.

"People understand how much these medals mean to the athletes and those in the communities who have played their part in supporting us."

She also urged whoever had Alex Partridge's medal to return it too.

Macleod had asked on Twitter for the medal to be returned to her sport's governing body anonymously.

After her medal was returned, Partridge tweeted an appeal for anyone who had his medal to send it to his sport's headquarters, saying: "If you have my medal please send it to British Rowing 6 Lower Mall Hammersmith London."

Police said, for now, they were keeping Macleod's medal as part of their inquiries, but looked forward to reuniting her with it shortly.

Det Ch Insp James Harman said: "We are still looking to recover the second medal, and we stress that our inquiries remain active.

"Our appeals for information stand and I take this opportunity to reiterate them - if the public can help we ask them to do so.

"Alex's medal has yet to be traced, and he is understandably keen to be reunited with it as soon as possible."

A 31-year-old man arrested in connection with the investigation has been bailed while inquiries continue.

Police said Macleod's jacket had not been recovered.