Durango Police Department is seeking information about two women who stole jewelry from Toh-Atin Gallery on Monday.
Toh-Atin co-owner Antonia Clark said two women came in, and while sales clerks were talking to one of them, the other grabbed two necklaces out of a case and left. It appeared the first woman was trying to distract them.
The incident took place about 4 p.m. at the gallery, which is on east Ninth Street. While the case had a lock, it was not properly latched, Clark said.
Using video footage, police have been able to provide descriptions of the two women.
Both are Native American. One is about 5 feet 4 inches tall, with dark hair and physically fit. She was wearing a light blue shirt, blue stretch shorts and black shoes with red laces. The other is about 5 feet 6 inches tall and heavyset. She was wearing a blue sweatshirt and gray jeans.
“They appeared to be Navajo, so these would be easy for them to sell; something they can also pawn,” Clark said.
Both necklaces are squash blossoms. One is valued at $650, the value of the other was not available.
“It’s a real hit,” Clark said. “To recoup the loss, we have to sell 10 times the amount of the value of the loss. So if $5,000 of merchandise is taken, we have to sell $50,000.”
A silver sculpture was taken from the gallery about a year and a half ago.
“We did recover that, thanks to the DPD,” she said.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Durango police Detective Bruce Baldwin at 375-4734 or CrimeStoppers at 247-1112.
abutler@durangoherald.com