Victoria Police will today present long-time Essendon stalwart, Colin Hooper, with James Hird's 250th game guernsey which was stolen last week from a Kew framing business.
 
The jumper - which was personally signed and given to Hooper by Hird - was found by members from Dandenong Criminal Investigation Unit after attending an address in Springvale South in relation to a separate investigation.

 

While at the residence, a man known to police fled the scene and dropped an item in the backyard. The item has since been identified as the stolen Essendon Football Club jumper.

""I just feel really happy that it has been found - to be honest, I had given up,"" Mr Hooper said.

""The police kept saying we would get it back but I didn't believe it and, to their credit, it turned up.

""I thought it was joke when the police first called, I thought it was one of the players because they had been giving me a bit of stick for being in the media.""

""The policeman then read out to me what was written on the jumper and I said 'yep that's it, that's the one' and I believed him.

""They are going to present it to me today and the plan is to take it back to the Kew framing business that it was stolen from because they have had a bit of bad publicity.

""My wife says I can't hang it in the house but I will find a good spot and we can move on.

""I might actually donate it to the Hall of Fame at Windy Hill at some point because its become a pretty famous jumper!""
 

A search by police of the Springvale South premises located a number of other items believed to be stolen, including a missing Geelong Football Club guernsey.

 

A female was arrested at the scene and is assisting police with their enquiries.

 

Police are still searching for the man who fled the scene and are appealing for him to come forward.

 

They would like to hear from Troy Robert Jones, 22, who they believe can assist with their enquiries.

 

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Troy Robert Jones is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website at www.crimestoppers.com.au.