VASTERAS, Sweden, May 7 (UPI) -- The stolen burial regalia of a 16th century Swedish king was found in two garbage bags on the side of a highway near Vasteras, authorities said.
A sceptre, crown and gilded wooden apple were stolen Friday from the grave of Erik XIV, the half-brother of King Johan III at Vasteras Cathedral, the Swedish News Agency TT reported Monday.
The sceptre and crown -- produced in the 16th century -- were used in Johan III's burial ceremony in 1592 and were later arranged by King Gustav III in 1800 to be moved to Erik XIV's grave because he was buried in 1577 without regalia, TT reported. A second set of regalia for Johan III's burial is kept in Uppsala.
Authorities said they received a call Monday that the items were located near highway 555 between Vasteras and Hallstahammar.
"An anonymous tipster called and said where the loot was, so we just had to go out and get it," said Ann-Charlotte Israelsson of the Vastmanland County police.
Police are investigating the items to try to find clues leading to the capture of the thief or thieves, TT reported.
"If it had been thieves who had them in their possession, I don't think they would have wanted to be discovered with the items. But we don't know if it might have been a thief who got cold feet and called to tip us off about there the items were," Israelsson said.
