A $25,000 sculpture of a coyote with a pup tucked into its tail has been stolen from a Lakewood park.
Police and city officials are trying to track down the thief — or more likely, thieves — who stole the statue from Coyote Gulch Park, 2501 S. Gladiola Way, on Sunday night or early Monday morning, according to a Lakewood police report.
A neighborhood woman walking her dog in the park at about 6:30 a.m. Monday called police to report the statue missing.
A nod to the park’s name, the artwork accentuated its surroundings, and people who use the park are missing the coyote, said Kathy Hodgson, community resources director with the city.
“All of a sudden it’s gone,” Hodgson said. “From an emotional perspective, it’s troubling.”
The thieves used stolen construction equipment and materials, including a wheelbarrow and poles, from a nearby construction site to break the statue loose from its pedestal and cart it off, according to police. The pedestal was heavily damaged.
“It is unknown whether the thief took the statue for the value of the metal or to display it elsewhere,” said Steve Davis, a Lakewood Police Department spokesman. “Regardless, it belongs to the citizens and taxpayers of the city of Lakewood.”
“Maternal Wrap,” a bronze by Tim Cherry that was commissioned in 1997, weighs about 150 pounds and is 3-feet tall.
Anyone with information on the statue is asked to call Detective John Beattie at 303-987-7111.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
