by Cheryl Leschasin
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 17/97) - The manager of Yellowknife's Northern Images store is offering a reward for the return of a valuable carving reported stolen early Tuesday morning.

At approximately 2 a.m., someone threw a large rock through the Franklin Avenue display window and left with the art, which Lisa Seagrave said is worth $3,400.

"We've been here in this location since 1972 and we've never had this happen before this year," said Seagrave.

In June the same window was smashed and two carvings valued at approximately $2,500 apiece were stolen.

James Taylor and Jeff Blackduck were apprehended within hours after that crime and charged. Taylor received an 18-month jail sentence, while Blackduck received four months plus a year's probation. Both are also required to pay restitution.

Luckily, both carvings stolen in June were recovered undamaged.

No suspects have been identified in Tuesday morning's incident.

"Northern Images is offering a $200 reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen carving or the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the crime," said Seagrave.

The carving that was stolen, "Mom and Tot" by Napatchie Pitsiulak of Lake Harbour, is of a woman breast-feeding a baby.

The amautik-clad woman is kneeling on one knee, with the baby is resting on the other. The carving is made from green serpentine stone, which is green with yellow veins through it. It stands about 35 centimetres high.

Fortunately for Northern Images, "Mom and Tot" was the only carving stolen. Three others were in the window at the time of the theft.

An hour earlier that night, a window was smashed at YK Pizza and Deli at around 1 a.m.

Manager Viet Pham said the window has been smashed five times in recent memory.

"It must have been a big impact," said Pham. Glass was sprayed several metres into the restaurant. The establishment was not entered into.

A group of three teens was seen hanging around the area just before the vandalism occurred, but RCMP Staff Sgt. Dave Grundy said they are not necessarily responsible for the crime.

Police are asking witnesses to call Crime Stoppers or the police with information on either of these crimes.