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Published: 2012-10-08 12:15:00
Updated: 2012-10-08 23:46:38

Stolen charity cow sculpture recovered in Durham


Stolen CowParade sculpture
Stolen CowParade sculpture
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A charity cow sculpture that was stolen over the weekend from a Durham car dealership was found Monday at a home on Garrett Road, officials said.

The sculpture, which is part of a fundraising effort for the North Carolina Children's Hospital, had some minor damage and will be touched up by the artist before being returned to Johnson Lexus, at at 1013 Southpoint Autopark Blvd. 

Details about its recovery or possible charged against whoever had the sculpture were not released.

The 125-pound fiberglass "Cow is Greener on the Other Side" sculpture was removed from its 400-pound concrete base outside the dealership late Saturday or early Sunday.

The cow is one of more than 80 life-sized cow sculptures on display across the Triangle through December as part of CowParade North Carolina 2012. The sculptures will be auctioned in January to raise money for the children's hospital.

Johnson Lexus turned over footage from its security cameras to Durham police, said Sean Alazraki, the dealership's community relations manager. But the dealership also offered a 48-hour amnesty for the safe return of the sculpture, he said.

"Our prime concern is getting the cow back unharmed so it can benefit North Carolina Children's Hospital as intended," Alazraki said in a statement before the sculpture was recovered. "No questions asked. Simply drop it off or let us know where we can pick it up."

The sculpture is valued at $10,000, officials said.

"Having been stolen, the cow cannot be displayed or sold,” Ron Fox, vice president and owner of CowParade Global Limited, said in a statement. “There is no purpose to the theft other than harm to the children's hospital.”

A second sculpture at Johnson Lexus, "Binary Bovine," was left unharmed, officials said.

In August, two CowParade sculptures in Chapel Hill were vandalized.

An oversize bow tie was taken from a sculpture designed by fashion designer and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumnus Alexander Julian. A day later, another sculpture was upended, and a portion was broken.

Two UNC-Chapel Hill students were charged with damaging personal property in the second vandalism.


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umom07 you were right on!!! The security camera did assist.

Seen the price of milk these days?

Once the vandals are caught they need to be doing time for charities to "pay" the price the sculpture would bring at auction for the childrens hospital...actually they will not let me say what REALLY needs to be done to them. Promise then they wouldn't think of stealing even a thought!

"Where in the world do they find this kind of money to throw around on objects such as these?" - paultaylorsr100

Who is "they"? The artists who make them or the people who buy them?

They are for charity, and many are purchased by companies who already set aside money each year for charitable donations. Putting a giant cow in your lobby is a great way to say "Look, we gave money to a children's hospital"

Not sure if it has already been stated but the cow didn't cost $10,000 to make. This is the value that it is expected to be auctioned off at. Sometimes the companies who donated/designed the cows will often by their own cows back and the money will be donated to the Children's Hospital, while also allowing the company to write the money off as a charitable contribution.

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