THEFT DETERRENT Modern technology stops vandalism, beavernappings

The fiberglass beavers attract tourists to the city near Dayton.
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (AP) -- First, Builder Beaver went missing. Then Dr. B. Verr was kidnapped. And finally there were assorted acts of vandalism on the other towering, toothy fiberglass beavers created to mark this western Ohio city's 25th anniversary.
So city leaders turned to modern technology to stop the beavernappings. Tracking devices have been added to the 25 street sculptures.
"It's a shame we have to do that," said Deb Venable, a 52-year-old resident who likes the statues. "They are a very clever and thoughtful community project that promotes a sense of pride."
The beavers are the brainchild of Julie Vann, a former mayor inspired by Chicago's fiberglass cows and Cincinnati's fiberglass pigs.
"With a name like Beavercreek, it was just an opportunity sitting there to happen," Vann said. "It's whimsical and it's fun."
Keith Maxwell, a local chain-saw artist, sculpted the prototype beaver out of a huge tree that had been cut down by road crews. The prototype was used as the model for the 6-foot-6, 250-pound fiberglass sculptures.
"I was really afraid about making them too small because if they were the size of a trash can, people would hardly see them," Vann said.
They're individuals
Each statue has its own unique paint job, ornamentation and name.
Vincent Van Beaver is painted in the style of the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. Dr. B. Verr has a lab coat and medical bag. Busta Moves Beaver carries a skateboard. To Be or Not to Be Beaver wears Shakespearean garb.
Jack Haney, assistant city manager, said the beavers have attracted tourists to the city of 40,000 just east of Dayton. He said the sculptures are hard to resist.
"It's a big beaver," Haney said. "It's so big it's funny."
All sit at outside locations except for three, which are inside a shopping mall. The statues will be auctioned Oct. 15, with the proceeds used for improvements at a senior citizens center, a community theater and a teen center.
But the sculptures have proved tempting targets.
Culprits caught
Builder Beaver was stolen and was missing for two days until it was spotted in someone's back yard and retrieved.
A group of teens took Dr. B. Verr, which had been floating on a platform in a pond, Vann said. The teens were caught when they returned to get their fishing poles.
Several of the statues were vandalized. Some were spray-painted, Lady Justice Beaver was split in half, Marching Band Beaver's trombone was stolen and Bibs Beaver's bib overalls are constantly being pulled down.
The electronic tracking devices will alert police if the beavers are picked up.
The devices also give off loud beeping sounds if the beavers are moved from their locations.
Since the devices were installed last month, there have been no beaver kidnappings.
Haney said the beavernappers perhaps viewed the thefts as simply a prank, akin to tipping over an outhouse. However, he said the thefts are a serious crime because of the $2,500 price tag of the sculptures.
Venable said the thefts and vandalism bother her.
"It's kind of stealing away part of the community," she said.