By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A couple whose Packwood cabin was broken into the week before last managed to track down what they were missing the most: three hand-carved Native American masks.
The objects would be worth hundreds of dollar apiece in a gallery, but have sentimental value for Bob Cartano.
He got them years ago when he was working with native bands in Alaska and Canada developing timber, he said.
[1]Shaman mask
The Seattle residents were contemplating offering a reward for the return of the artwork and this morning, he was checking eBay to find monetary values for the masks. The insurance company had given him a lot forms to fill out, he said.
He got lucky.
“He saw them along with antique snowshoes for sale by a shop in downtown Snoqualmie,” Maureen Cartano said in an email message this afternoon. “We drove out, contacted local police, and the shop owner gave them back.”
The Cartanos lost many other valuables in the break-in, mostly tools. Today, besides the masks, he got back his ski shoes and their snowshoes. All were listed for sale on eBay.
One of the masks was broke in half and glued already, presumably from falling off the wall from high up, when the thief or thieves used a ski pole to pull them off their hooks, he said.
Bob Cartano said he has quite a collection of masks, but it was his three favorite he kept at the cabin.
He was feeling so good about his sleuthing skills today, he was sort of hoping he could get designated an honorary deputy.
For the week, he said.
Three others property owners were victimized in the same gated neighborhood on Teal Drive in Packwood during the same time frame, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy called to the area on April 2, a Saturday, determined they were hit sometime since the Tuesday evening prior.
The initial total loss was with more than $4,000.
The shop owner in Snoqualmie told the officer who spoke with him he had purchased the masks from three people whose black SUV was “full of stuff.”