WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two of the 41 dog sculptures decorated by area artists as part of the Dog Days of Summer community art project were stolen late Friday (May 8) or early Saturday (May 9).

One called “Give a Dog a Bone” by artist Liz Rainey was sponsored through contributions from students, faculty and staff in Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in honor of the school’s 50th anniversary. Nicknamed “Oliver” by the students, it is missing from the Harrison Street side of Lynn Hall, the school’s home on Harrison Street on the south side of campus.

The second missing sculpture, “Alfie the Alpha Dog,” was decorated by artist Janet Combs Ivas and had been standing watch on the Northwestern Avenue side of the West Lafayette Public Library.

“These dogs are priceless, not just because of the imagination and talent that went into producing them but also because of the community spirit they represent,” said Kevin Doerr, the school’s director of alumni relations and public affairs. “Our students, faculty and staff are enormously disappointed since this was a highlight of our anniversary celebration.

“Anyone who has information that might help us get them back or who knows where they might be located is asked to contact Purdue police at 765-494-8221 or call the anonymous tip line at 765-496-3784. If a reward would add needed encouragement, we are prepared to offer up to $250 for their safe return.”

The School of Veterinary Medicine and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette partnered on the project that placed decorated life-size dog statues throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.

In addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school, the project also is a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, and both benefit equally. The Dog Days of Summer builds upon previous sculpture projects in the community: Hog Wild in 2003 and Frog Follies in 2005. This new project was inspired by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s outdoor sculpture “Continuum” by Larry Anderson, which features a dog as part of its array of people and animals in a depiction of the enduring human-animal bond.

Artists from Indiana and other areas were recruited to decorate three-dimensional fiberglass dog forms. The finished dogs will be on display from May through September. Corporations, business owners, veterinarians and individuals have sponsored the individual dogs, which will go home with them when Dog Days are over.

At the end of the exhibition, a few of the decorated dogs will go on the road as part of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s traveling exhibit in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Other dogs will be auctioned off to the public on Oct. 4, when they will find a permanent home. Proceeds from the project will benefit the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship Endowment and its Good Samaritan Fund, and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s art education programs.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue police are investigating the theft of traffic safety signs from two university golf courses.

The stop signs taken from the Birck Boilermaker Golf complex and the Ackerman course on the Purdue campus resemble these custom-made wooden signs.

Three stop signs were taken from exits at the Birck Boilermaker Golf complex. A 6-foot black signpost was cut down from the Ackerman course, which is across Cherry Lane from the Birck complex. All the signs were custom-made from wood and, together, are valued at about $1,700, Purdue Police Lt. Fred Davis said. Police believe the thefts occurred between 5 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at 765-494-8221 or its anonymous tipline at 765-496-3784.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police arrested a Lafayette man Tuesday (Dec. 30) for allegedly stealing computer equipment from the Meteorological Laboratory at 1305 McCormick Road.

Kevin R. Critser, 28, 3320 Mystic Lane, Lafayette, was charged with burglary and theft, said Purdue police detective Sgt. Matt Rosenbarger.

Police responded to an alarm at the building at 12:50 a.m. Tuesday. As officers stopped to open a gate into the area, a car approaching from the gate’s other side quickly turned around and sped off, Rosenbarger said. Police entered the area and found an abandoned blue Mitzubishi Eclipse stuck in the mud near the Purdue tennis complex.

Police obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and found computer equipment allegedly taken from the laboratory, Rosenbarger said. The car was registered to Critser, who was later found at the Country Villa Apartments in West Lafayette with an acquaintance. He was detained for questioning, and then arrested at 1 p.m.

Burglary is a Class C felony punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Theft is a Class D felony punishable by a maximum of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue police have arrested two people for allegedly stealing a vacuum cleaner from the university’s Recreational Sports Center.

Paul. S. Petticrew, 19, a freshman in the College of Science from Zionsville, Ind., and James A. Berg 18, a freshman in the School of Management from Shawano, Wis., were arrested Thursday (Nov. 20). Both face theft charges.

According to a police report, surveillance video showed two men using a student identification card to enter the center’s rear turnstile shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 16). The entrance is near a closet in which the vacuum was stored. The video shows the person believed to be Berg leaving the area followed by the person believed to be Petticrew leaving with the vacuum cleaner, valued at about $344.

Theft is a Class D felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Someone has absconded with more than half a mile of copper wire from a campus construction storage area, and the Purdue police would like to know who.

Purdue police on Thursday (April 24) are looking for information about the theft of approximately $44,000 worth of insulated copper wire from a construction storage area on campus during the past three weeks.

A Purdue employee told police approximately 2,800 feet of stranded copper wire, ranging in thickness from one-fourth of an inch to one inch in diameter, was taken at some point after April 4. The insulated copper wire was taken from a construction storage area near the Physical Facilities service building, said Lt. Fred Davis.

Davis said the wire, which is used for electrical construction and remodeling projects at the university, may have been taken, stripped of its plastic coating, and then sold to a salvage company.

The person or people responsible for the theft may have had to make multiple trips to haul the copper wire away since such a large amount was taken, Davis said.

Theft is a Class D felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous crime tip line at (765) 496-3784.