Moment thief 'breaks into London gallery and steals prized Banksy artwork'

This is the moment a thief broke into a central London gallery to allegedly steal a prized Banksy artwork.

The iconic Girl with Balloon print was taken from the Grove Gallery in New Cavendish Street.

In the footage provided by the gallery, a thief can be seen repeatedly hitting the glass on the front entrance and shoulder-barging it until the glass shatters. He clambers through the door and grabs an artwork before exiting and running off. The masked raider is in and out in under a minute.

Two men have been charged with burglary after the Banksy artwork was stolen on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, are accused of non-residential burglary by breaking into the Grove Gallery in New Cavendish Street.

The stolen item was a limited edition print of Girl with Balloon which was hanging in the gallery as part of an exhibition titled “Breakout: Banksy’s London Rebellion”.

The charge alleges: “On 08/09/2024 at Westminster in the Borough of Westminster having entered as a trespasser a building namely Grove Gallery, stole therein ‘Girl with Balloon Print’ to the value of £270,000.”

The print was hanging by the door of the Fitzrovia gallery, accompanied by a sign about the artwork’s history and significance.

“’Girl with Balloon is arguably Banksy’s most famous and beloved artwork”, the sign reads.

“First appearing on the streets of London in 2002, the image of a young girl reaching out towards a heart-shaped balloon has captured the imagination of audiences worldwide.

“The artwork has been reproduced in various forms and remains one of Banksy’s most recognisable and iconic pieces.

Grove Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj was alerted to the break-in early Monday morning and immediately notified the police, followed by a call to Gallery CEO James Ryan. After reviewing CCTV footage, the police quickly referred the case to the Flying Squad. Statements were also collected from nearby shop owners and gallery staff.

Mr Ryan said: “The swift action of the Flying Squad from the outset was incredible from start to finish, and I can’t thank them enough for every effort they have made. To say this theft was devastating and heartbreaking is an understatement.

“The Banksy works were on display to pay homage to an incredible artist and to allow everyone to enjoy them. To witness such a brazen theft, carried out on foot, was just shocking.

“The image is often interpreted as a symbol of lost innocence, hope, or the fleeting nature of love. The simplicity of the composition, combined with its powerful emotional resonance, exemplifies Banksy’s ability to convey complex ideas with minimalistic imagery. Over the years, ‘Girl with Balloon has become a universal symbol of optimism, often associated with the message ‘There is always hope’, a phrase that accompanied the original mural.

“This particular print is a signed edition, part of a limited run of 150. The signed editions of ‘Girl with Balloon’ are highly sought after due to their rarity and the global recognition of the artwork.

“Banksy’s signature adds a layer of value and authenticity, making this piece a prized possession for collectors.”

The original Girl with Balloon work was created in 2002, in a series of stencils that appeared on walls around London.

In 2018, a copy of the famous artwork partially self-destructed at the conclusion of an auction in which it had been sold for £1.1 million.

The canvas was passed through a secret shredder hidden inside the large frame, leaving the bottom half in tatters and only a solitary red balloon left on a white background in the frame.

The partially-shredded piece, entitled Love Is In The Bin, was sold for £18,582,000 in London by auction house Sotheby's in October 2021.

Earlier this summer, several pieces in Banksy's animal-themed series were moved for safekeeping, with one defaced just hours after it went up.

Banksy's silhouette of a howling wolf on a satellite dish in Peckham was taken less than an hour after it was confirmed as authentic.

Another piece in his collection, a silhouette of a rhino, was defaced by a man wearing a black balaclava just hours after it went up.

His piece at London Zoo, which shows a gorilla lifting up a shutter and allowing a number of birds and a seal to escape, was removed for "safekeeping" and replaced with a replica in August.

Banksy's artwork of piranhas in a police sentry box was moved temporarily to Guildhall Yard to keep it safe. Over the summer the artist spraypainted a string of artworks across London over nine days.

Two men have been charged with burglary after a Banksy artwork was stolen from a London gallery on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, are accused of non-residential burglary by breaking into the Grove Gallery in New Cavendish Street.

The stolen item was a limited edition print of Banksy’s iconic “Girl with Balloon” which was hanging in the gallery as part of an exhibition titled “Breakout: Banksy’s London Rebellion”.

Police said the print, signed by the artist in a limited run of just 150 and worth an estimated £270,000, was the only item stolen and has now been recovered and will be returned to the gallery.

Fraser, of Evelyn Denington Road, Beckton, east London, and Love, of Elvin Drive, North Stifford, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where they were bailed ahead of appearing at Kingston Crown Court on October 9.

The charge alleges: “On 08/09/2024 at Westminster in the Borough of Westminster having entered as a trespasser a building namely Grove Gallery, stole therein ‘Girl with Balloon Print’ to the value of £270,000.”

The print was hanging by the door of the Fitzrovia gallery, accompanied by a sign about the artwork’s history and significance.

“’Girl with Balloon is arguably Banksy’s most famous and beloved artwork”, the sign reads.

“First appearing on the streets of London in 2002, the image of a young girl reaching out towards a heart-shaped balloon has captured the imagination of audiences worldwide.

“The artwork has been reproduced in various forms and remains one of Banksy’s most recognisable and iconic pieces.

“The image is often interpreted as a symbol of lost innocence, hope, or the fleeting nature of love. The simplicity of the composition, combined with its powerful emotional resonance, exemplifies Banksy’s ability to convey complex ideas with minimalistic imagery. Over the years, ‘Girl with Balloon has become a universal symbol of optimism, often associated with the message ‘There is always hope’, a phrase that accompanied the original mural.

“This particular print is a signed edition, part of a limited run of 150. The signed editions of ‘Girl with Balloon’ are highly sought after due to their rarity and the global recognition of the artwork.

“Banksy’s signature adds a layer of value and authenticity, making this piece a prized possession for collectors.”

The original Girl with Balloon work was created in 2002, in a series of stencils that appeared on walls around London.

In 2018, a copy of the famous artwork partially self-destructed at the conclusion of an auction in which it had been sold for £1.1 million.

The canvas was passed through a secret shredder hidden inside the large frame, leaving the bottom half in tatters and only a solitary red balloon left on a white background in the frame.

The partially-shredded piece, entitled Love Is In The Bin, was sold for £18,582,000 in London by auction house Sotheby's in October 2021.

Earlier this summer, several pieces in Banksy's animal-themed series were moved for safekeeping, with one defaced just hours after it went up.

Banksy's silhouette of a howling wolf on a satellite dish in Peckham was taken less than an hour after it was confirmed as authentic.

Another piece in his collection, a silhouette of a rhino, was defaced by a man wearing a black balaclava just hours after it went up.

His piece at London Zoo, which shows a gorilla lifting up a shutter and allowing a number of birds and a seal to escape, was removed for "safekeeping" and replaced with a replica in August.

Banksy's artwork of piranhas in a police sentry box was moved temporarily to Guildhall Yard to keep it safe, the City of London Co

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