Banksy’s iconic masterpiece “Girl with Balloon” “stolen” in art theft from London gallery: Two men appear in court for burglary

One of Banksy’s most famous works, “Girl with Balloon,” was stolen from a London gallery; two men are accused of burglary.

The work, estimated to be worth up to £250,000, was stolen in a robbery at the Grove Gallery over the weekend. Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, were arrested following police investigations.

“Girl with Balloon” was found following investigations by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad and is to be returned.

Fraser, from Beckton, East London, and Love, from North Stifford, Essex, were charged with non-domestic burglary and taken into police custody on Thursday, September 11.

Both appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 12 September, where they were released on bail and are due to appear at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday 9 October.

The work, estimated to be worth up to £200,000, is one of the street artist’s most famous works.

It was stolen on Sunday in a robbery at the Grove Gallery in New Cavendish Street, during which the glass entrance to the premises was smashed.

The investigation was launched following a burglary on New Cavendish Street at around 11pm on Sunday 8 September.

The gallery hosted a Banksy exhibition titled “Breakout: Banksy’s London Rebellion,” which ended on Saturday.

“Girl with Balloon” appeared alongside other notable works by Banksy, including “Pulp Fiction” and “Monkey Queen.”

During the break-in, Grove’s glass entrance doors were smashed.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police confirmed that Banksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’ was the only object stolen; it has now been recovered and will be returned to the gallery.

The work, which shows a young girl in black graffiti who has just released a red heart-shaped balloon, is one of the street artist’s most famous works.

It was first seen in 2002 on the south bank of Waterloo next to the quote: “There is always hope.”

It follows a series of thefts and vandalisms of Banksy paintings in recent months.

The girl with the balloon, which was seen in packaging marked “Police Evidence”, has been seized by investigators from the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad and is to be returned.

The Grove Gallery hosted a Banksy exhibition entitled “Breakout: Banksy’s London Rebellion,” which ended on Saturday.

Girl with Balloon appeared alongside other notable works by Banksy, including Monkey Queen (print pictured)

Another Banksy work, a lone wolf image on a satellite dish in Peckham, mysteriously disappeared last month. Footage shows hooded men dismantling and removing the dish.

A mural – depicting two elephants poking their heads out of white windows – appeared in Chelsea, London, last month but was defaced with grey streaks after a week.

Located in Edith Grove, the painting is the second of nine animal-themed artworks by the elusive artist to go on display in the capital.

Banksy’s rhino mural in Charlton was also vandalised with spray paint in August, while the artist’s lone wolf on a satellite dish in Peckham mysteriously disappeared.

Footage has emerged showing the shocking moment the artwork was dismantled and carried away.

A group of masked men wearing face masks and gloves were seen climbing the building, removing the satellite dish and walking away.

A spokesman for Banksy had previously stated that the artist had no connection with the theft of the wolf artwork and had not condoned it. In addition, they had “no knowledge of the current whereabouts of the bowl”.

The animal murals that appeared all over London were crowned by an image of a gorilla lifting the bottom of a shutter to release birds and a seal.

It appeared as if it had been deliberately sprayed with graffiti at London Zoo.

Charlotte Stewart, managing director of MyArtBroker, pointed out that the collection follows the theme of animal activism that has appeared repeatedly in Banksy’s works throughout his career.

She told LADBible: “Banksy is notorious for his work that focuses on animal rights. Works such as Barcode and Laugh Now showcase themes of animal activism.

“It’s a topic he hasn’t dealt with in recent years, but it seems to be a focus that is out of step with the current state of the world, its wars and current politics.”

She also suggested that the stampede could represent the construction of an ark, inspired by the biblical story of Noah, suggesting that the artist believes the world must start over.