Detective Sergeant Mark James, of Hamilton police, said a man had been charged and appeared in the Hamilton Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a filing hearing.

"Police executed five search warrants in Hamilton on Tuesday and arrested and charged a Hamilton man in relation to a substantial burglary at a Hamilton home back in September," he said.

"The man was charged with two counts of both burglary and theft, drug offences and handling the proceeds of crime.”

Jason Barker, 40, of Gray Street, Hamilton, appeared in the court for a mention hearing on Wednesday and his case was adjourned until a further hearing in Warrnambool on January 19.

Detective Sergeant James said police say offenders broke into the Hamilton home while the residents were away and then returned the next day to take a heavy 60cm cube safe from the garage.

"The couple's savings were in the safe. The safe was removed, then opened, cash removed and divided up. We don't believe one person could have removed the safe by himself and investigations are ongoing," he said.

The detective said it was not a professional burglary and the thieves just got lucky. 

"These offences have had a devastating impact on the middle aged victims. To lose that amount of money would be hard on anyone," Detective Sergeant James said.