Eleanor Witt shows her lifeguard patch Thursday at the Butler Township Police Station. Her home had been burglarized in 2012, and police were trying to return items the thief apparently didn't value.

BUTLER TWP — That was fast. A day after township police put out a call for help reuniting personal memorabilia recovered during a 2012 burglary investigation, some of the items have been returned to a Wexford woman whose home was burglarized

Eleanor Witt was at the township police department Thursday afternoon to retrieve personal effects that included a communion prayer book, a tiny picture book that included images of her and a lifelong friend, a sentimental Christmas broach, and a patch she earned as a lifeguard for the Pittsburgh YMCA.

Witt, who will turn 83 in November, said she was shocked on Wednesday when a friend called to tell her that they had seen her picture on television after a local television station aired the department's effort to locate the items' owner.

Witt said she went online and watched a video of the report, and was surprised to find herself on the screen.

“It's really strange looking and seeing your picture on the Internet when you're about 10 years old,” she said, referring to a tiny book of pictures that was among the items police returned to her Thursday.

The family's home had been burglarized many years ago as part of a spree that investigators eventually connected to Doug Wetzel in 2012. Some items taken by Wetzel, including Witt's engagement and wedding rings, were never found. But police ultimately were left with a collection of personal effects and memorabilia that weren't of any value to the burglar.

After filling out some paperwork and speaking with Det. Justin Welton on Thursday, Witt went home with an array of personal effects that she said the family had forgotten existed over the years.

“We (have) lived in this house for 60 years,” she said, “and with four kids there's an awful lot of stuff. I missed it at the time, but then I forgot about it.”

Among the pictures Witt retrieved Thursday was one of her childhood friend Charlotte Kerr, whom Witt said passed away a couple years ago. The two had been inseparable best friends throughout school, and managed to stay in touch regularly as adults as well. Witt said recovering the memorabilia was a happy surprise, and brought back memories of her childhood friends and pursuits.

“It's really great,” she said. “It just brings back an awful lot of memories.”

Welton said that some items recovered in connection with the burglaries still remain in the department's possession. But they mostly consist of costume jewelry, and there appears to be little hope of finding the original owner or owners.