 In 1981 , about 30 minutes before the start of April Fools ' Day , three men attempted to steal the 250 @-@ pound ( 110 kg ) statue , breaking it free from its pedestal and dragging it towards a waiting car before being spotted by a city worker and fleeing the scene . Damage from the incident included a broken right index finger and other cracks . Repairs cost $ 3 @,@ 000 and were undertaken by Norman Taylor , who also strengthened the sculpture 's body and its connections to its base . Kvinneakt was reinstalled at Fifth Avenue and Washington six months later , in October 1981 . 
