A 103-YEAR-OLD silver match case has been returned to its owner after being picked up by a good Samaritan at Cleveland.
A very relieved, Samantha Keegan said the case on a chain had huge sentimental value.
“My grandmother gave it to me on my 21st birthday,” she said.
“I have had it for about 30 years.”
It was the second time the case had been returned to Samantha Keegan by police, as it was stolen from her about 25 years ago.
On Thursday, Ms Keegan found the case missing and thought she had dropped it when she got out of her car in Waterloo Street.
She went back to look for it, posted appeals on social media in case anyone had seen it and put up a sign near to where she thought she had lost it.
“I even went to ask at pawn shops in case someone had taken it in.”
Police said the case had been handed in on the day Ms Keegan lost it.
Police approached the Redland City Bulletin to publish a photograph of the case to find the owner.
The Bulletin alerted the police to an appeal about the missing case by Ms Keegan on the Bulletin’s Facebook page.
Ms Keegan said she had tried to contact the person who handed in the case.
When the case was stolen 25 years ago, Ms Keegan was visiting Kondalilla Falls with a friend.
Their car was broken into and police tracked those responsible from a registration number taken down by the women.
Police found the women’s bags, one of which contained the antique case, while investigating the theft.
The match case is engraved with the words Townsville friends and dated 1914.
Ms Keegan said her grandmother was given the case by her uncle, but she does not know of a connection between her family and anyone at Townsville.
