By Jen Ryan Mauck, Contributing Writer
When Crystal Ray Silva realized her beloved Buddha statue was stolen from her front yard in late August, she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. "I'm shocked and sad. I just thought people understood that you don't touch things like that. If they wanted it that badly, I probably would have given it to them.GÇ¥
Silva's Buddha statue is not just some random garden ornament, but a family treasure that she inherited from her mother before she passed away.
When Silva moved to Powell Street, she placed the Buddha in her front yard in honor of her late mother, yet soon realized that it served a bigger purpose to the surrounding community. It became a beloved staple on Powell Street for over five years and reflected a meaningful icon of good karma, peace and prayer.
Several times a week, passersby and neighbors decorated the Buddha with spirited offerings such as festive jewelry, baked goods, candy, flowers and even money. Silva never removed the offerings when she discovered them. Instead, she left them for people to enjoy and take if desired. Silva was just happy knowing her statue was loved and valued.
Regarding the details of the theft, Silva asserted that, "It wasn't something someone could just walk up and walk off with. You needed a truck and a lot of manpower.GÇ¥ The Buddha is made of solid concrete and extremely heavy to move; facts that appear to indicate that the crime was most likely planned.
Silva filed a police report, but has yet to hear any updates or leads. However, as of last weekend, Silva stumbled upon the Monroe Burglary Watchdog page on Facebook and to her surprise, realized people, some she didn't even know, were actually posting about the missing Buddha. Silva is grateful that the community truly cares about the statue and is being proactive through social media in their search to find the missing treasure.
The Buddha has been missing for over a month now, but Silva still believes in the goodness of humanity. In fact, she claims that anyone who has information leading to the recovery of her Buddha will "have a lifetime of good karma.GÇ¥
If you have any information regarding the missing Buddha statue, please contact the Monroe Monitor & Valley News at: 125 E. Main, Ste. 202, Monroe, WA 98272, (360) 794-7116, or email editor@monroemonitor.com.
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