25 Years Later, Stolen Super Bowl Ring Turns Up in Laguna Niguel

A 1971 Super Bowl ring belonging to former San Diego Charger Lance Alworth was found at an auction house in Laguna Niguel—25 years after it was stolen, authorities announced. 

The ring was on exhibit at Trophy's Restaurant in Mission Valley, along with other local sports memorabilia, when it was stolen in 1988, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. 

On Sept. 7, Alworth received a call from a stranger who demanded $40,000 for the return of the ring, sheriff's spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said. Detectives with the Sheriff's Department's Encinitas station launched an investigation and located the ring at an auction house in Laguna Niguel, where it was scheduled to go up for bid on Nov. 20, she said, noting the auction was expected to open at $44,000. 

No arrests were immediately made but the investigation is ongoing, according to Caldwell.

Anyone with information about the ring was asked to call sheriff's Detective Jaime Rodriguez at (760) 966-3504 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. 

–City News Service