A local stargazer has been left lamenting the theft of a valuable telescope.

John – who did not want his full name released for personal security – returned from Perth on Monday night to find his Kalgoorlie home had been broken into.

In addition to a number of personal items, thieves removed a StarWatcher telescope which John used for his amateur astronomy.

While the theft has been reported to Kalgoorlie Police, John fears the thieves may break the telescope when they realise they could not sell it.

“I’m terrified they’re going to smash it, there’s nothing they can do without the base, ” he said.

“I’m just hoping someone will spot it before it gets damaged – it’s a big white cylinder so it’s pretty hard to miss."

Better known as “General Hercules”– the star of his own series of prospecting and music videos on Youtube – John says he enjoys the stargazing.