3 Rare Swords Stolen in ’81 Are Recovered

Three antique Japanese swords, part of a $1-million collection stolen in 1981 from a Hollywood Hills collector, have been recovered, and two suspects--one from Huntington Beach--have been arrested in the theft, Los Angeles police said.

However, Willis M. Hawley, who had spent 50 years amassing the rare swords, which date back to the 14th Century, did not live to see the three rare swords recovered. He died last November at age 91.

“He was utterly devastated when they were stolen; I wish he could have known about this,” said Hawley’s son, Willis (Bill) Hawley.

Police arrested Ronald Bates, 40, at his Huntington Beach home. Last week they arrested Ronald Curland, 27, who is serving time at Chino State Prison on a narcotics conviction.

The two are being charged with receiving stolen property because the statute of limitations in the burglary case ran out in 1984, police said.

The three swords recovered from the 1981 burglary are valued at about $11,000. A fourth sword, worth $50,000, is known to be in Japan, said Los Angeles Police Detective Bill Martin, and Japanese authorities have been asked to help retrieve it.