ARTFusion robbed on Christmas

A Christmas Day robbery has left ARTFusion on Electric Avenue with more than $1,500 in losses.

A locked display case was broken into sometime in the afternoon or evening Dec. 25, and all of the merchandise was stolen out of it. This included jewelry and holiday items.

"It's sad and it's hard," owner Kathy Leslie said. "We're really struggling to make it. To have this happen on Christmas day, boy, it really kicks you right in the teeth."

Tools such as a hammer and chisel were used to break into the shatter-proof case. Some of the stolen items included an oval platter with two red birds, a pair of green earings with cattails and long pearls, and reindeer candleholders. Earings would have labels for P. Ching or De Veer on their backings.

Leslie said she filed a police report with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. It's unclear whether the items were stolen to give as gifts or to pawn, she said.

"I don't think of them as easy to turn into cash, but maybe they saw an opportunity," Leslie said.

Anyone with information about the incident can call 758-5610 and reference case No. 200954241. People can also contact the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce at www.bigfork.org or leave a voicemail at 837-5888 to give an anonymous tip.