Two men have been charged with burglary over the theft of an artwork by street artist Banksy. Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, are accused of stealing ‘Girl with Balloon’ from a London gallery in a smash-and-grab raid. The stolen work, valued at £270,000, is a stencilled image of a child reaching for a heart-shaped red balloon. This piece is one of several versions of the famous image originally stencilled on a wall in east London.
Surveillance footage captured a masked man smashing a glass door and grabbing the picture from a wall before fleeing. The work was later recovered by the police, with nothing else reported stolen. The suspects appeared in court and were ordered detained until their next hearing in October.
Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj expressed horror over the theft but mentioned that the incident could increase the value of the artwork. Banksy, known for his mischievous and satirical art, has never confirmed his full identity and has become one of the world’s best-known artists. His work often sells for millions at auction and has been targeted by thieves and vandals in the past.
The stolen ‘Girl with Balloon’ is not the first Banksy piece to make headlines. Another version of the image partially self-destructed during a 2018 auction, fetching a high price and later selling for even more in 2021. The incident at the Grove Gallery has once again brought attention to the elusive artist’s work and the ongoing interest in his creations.
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Photo credit www.euronews.com