Melbourne detectives have arrested a man and a woman over the theft of television personality Patti Newton’s handbag containing cash and jewellery at a shopping centre cafe links of london charms.

The thieves stole the handbag along with valuable and sentimental jewellery, while Newton was having coffee with her daughter Lauren at Chadstone shopping centre, in the city’s south-east, on May 16.

The stolen items included rings, earrings, bracelets, a set of rosary beads her mother was holding as she died and an identification disc belonging to her father links of london sale.

Police have described their value as “substantial” and Ms Newton, the wife of Bert Newton, said they were not insured.

Benjamin Thorpe, 32, and Rachel Ward, 34, both of Hampton East, were charged with theft and the possession of proceeds of crime in relation to the theft, police said tonight links of london.

Both were remanded to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

“Some jewellery was recovered and detectives are hopeful more may be located in the future,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.

Ms Newton told reporters yesterday she had gone to a bank at the shopping centre where she withdrew cash and took jewellery, some of which belonged to her mother, from a cash box.

She planned to wear some of the jewellery to this year’s Logies night while the rest was to be dropped off at a jewellers for cleaning and valuation links of london on sale.

The handbag was snatched as they had a coffee at a nearby cafe, she said.