Two men have been charged with burglary after one of Banksy’s most famous artworks was stolen from a London gallery.
The piece, called Girl With Balloon, is one of Banksy’s most iconic works and depicts a young girl reaching out towards a red, heart-shaped balloon.
A shredded version of the painting was sold for $25 million (£19 million) in October 2021. However an unsigned screenprint is said to be worth £90,000, according to MyArtBroker.
Larry Fraser, 47, from Beckton, east London, and James Love, 53, from North Stifford, Essex, were charged after the work was taken from the Grove Gallery at around 11pm on Sept 8.
The charges follow an investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad after the burglary took place at the gallery in New Cavendish Street, Westminster.
The artwork has since been recovered and will be returned to the gallery, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Fraser and Love were charged with non-residential burglary on Tuesday in relation to the incident and remanded in custody.
They appeared at Wimbledon magistrates’ court the following day where they were granted bail and are due to appear at Kingston Crown Court on Oct 9.
Banksy’s work, known for its social commentary artworks and subversive style, has had many of his pieces stolen previously.
Last month a new piece by the artist was taken within an hour of being revealed.
The stencil of a howling wolf on a satellite dish in Rye Lane, Peckham, was taken by masked me shortly after Banksy confirmed the artwork was his own on his official Instagram.
In December, another Banksy piece in Peckham was stolen shortly after being unveiled.
The installation – three aircraft resembling military drones on a stop sign – was removed by a man with bolt cutters.
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***The Telegraph reports***:
Two men have been charged with burglary after one of Banksy’s most famous artworks was stolen from a London gallery.
The piece, called Girl With Balloon, is one of Banksy’s most iconic works and depicts a young girl reaching out towards a red, heart-shaped balloon.
A shredded version of the painting was sold for $25 million (£19 million) in October 2021. However an unsigned screenprint is said to be worth £90,000, according to MyArtBroker.
Larry Fraser, 47, from Beckton, east London, and James Love, 53, from North Stifford, Essex, were charged after the work was taken from the Grove Gallery at around 11pm on Sept 8.
The charges follow an investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad after the burglary took place at the gallery in New Cavendish Street, Westminster.
The artwork has since been recovered and will be returned to the gallery, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Fraser and Love were charged with non-residential burglary on Tuesday in relation to the incident and remanded in custody.
They appeared at Wimbledon magistrates’ court the following day where they were granted bail and are due to appear at Kingston Crown Court on Oct 9.
Banksy’s work, known for its social commentary artworks and subversive style, has had many of his pieces stolen previously.
Last month a new piece by the artist was taken within an hour of being revealed.
The stencil of a howling wolf on a satellite dish in Rye Lane, Peckham, was taken by masked me shortly after Banksy confirmed the artwork was his own on his official Instagram.
In December, another Banksy piece in Peckham was stolen shortly after being unveiled.
The installation – three aircraft resembling military drones on a stop sign – was removed by a man with bolt cutters.
**Full story:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/13/girl-with-balloon-banksy-artwork-stolen-men-charged-grove/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/13/girl-with-balloon-banksy-artwork-stolen-men-charged-grove/)
Nothing of value was lost