By Jon Gambrell
Enquirer contributor

OXFORD - Bill Greene would like his ox back.

A dark brown ox statue created by Greene, an Oxford resident, was installed Aug. 27 with four other pieces vying to win the city's first public sculpture contest.

Diana Durr, director of Oxford Visitors and Convention Bureau, said the ox's multicolored cape disappeared the first night.

After the cape was replaced, the whole ox vanished sometime Monday night.

The ox is valued at $2,100.

"It sat right on the red brick row, right next to the grass," Durr said. "It was darling."

Durr called police, and the Visitors and Convention Bureau is offering a $500 reward for its return and the apprehension of the rustlers who took it.

Sgt. Jim Squance of the Oxford police said prank thefts are "par for the course" in the college town.

"I imagine, and am hoping, that this will turn up," he said.

"It's just a shame because the artist who made it put a lot of time into it."

Squance said that anyone with information should contact police at (513) 524-5240 and can remain anonymous.

The winning piece in the sculpture contest, sponsored by Cinergy and local merchants, will be bronzed and placed in Oxford's new community park.

E-mail jgambrell@fuse.net