AFTER being stolen, kidnapped and even taken to with a hacksaw, Civic’s littlest men are getting extra protection.

Danish sculptor Keld Moseholm’s “On the Staircase”, in Petrie Plaza, will return in October after the two little guys who had been stolen from their spot at the top of the stairs were re-cast by the artist in Denmark.

And the restored statue, which has been vandalised at least three times in the last two years alone and is currently hidden in a secure construction area, will return with a few extra security measures.

Arts Minister Joy Burch says the little men will now be monitored 24/7 by a CCTV camera, and there will be a public loudspeaker inside the statue.

“Any future thieves who try to mishandle the men will hear a real person’s voice on the loudspeaker, telling them to get away and that the police have been called,” Ms Burch says.

She adds she’s “baffled” as to why this particular artwork is so popular with vandals.

“The sheep [statues] used to get vandalised, but not so much anymore… perhaps it’s because the men are still quite new,” she says.

“The artist is pretty disappointed it’s happening.”

Ms Burch says if the statue is vandalised again, she will consider moving it “to a safer location.”