Banksy theft: Two charged over stolen Girl with Balloon artwork
Surveillance footage captures the moment when the Banksy artwork is taken from an art gallery in London.
According to the Metropolitan Police, two individuals have been accused in connection with the theft of a Banksy piece from an art gallery in central London.
Authorities initiated an inquiry following a break-in at Grove Gallery on New Cavendish Street around 11:00 PM BST on Sunday.
The piece titled Girl with Balloon was the only artwork taken, but it has now been found and brought back.
Larry Fraser, 47, from Evelyn Denington Road in Beckton, and James Love, 53, residing on Elvin Drive in North Stifford, were both present at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, according to a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police.
The artwork titled "The Girl with Balloon" was taken on Sunday but was subsequently found.
The couple is scheduled to appear at Kingston Crown Court on October 9th.
Court records indicate that the two individuals reportedly broke into Grove Gallery and took a "Girl With Balloon" print valued at £270,000.
Grove Gallery showcased an exhibition titled "Banksy’s London Rebellion" from August 21 to September 7, highlighting the works of the renowned artist.
Check out: The gallery where a Banksy piece was taken.
The gallery informed BBC News that the artwork on display during the burglary was valued at more than £1.8 million.
All the artwork was taken down and placed in storage after the theft occurred.
Lindor Mehmetaj, the gallery manager, expressed that he was "terrified and shocked" when he got to the gallery and discovered the shattered glass and that the Banksy piece was missing.
He notified the police on Monday morning.
Lindor Mehmetaj expressed that he was "terrified" to find out that the artwork had been removed.
Upon learning that the artwork had been retrieved, he expressed how incredible it was to hear the news and how he could hardly believe his eyes when it was brought back to him.
It is currently located in an ordinary office within the gallery, enclosed in a bag used for police evidence.
He referred to the past few days as "utterly insane."
When questioned about whether he had communicated with Banksy since the theft, Mr. Mehmetaj responded, "I won't say a word."
According to Professor Paugh Gough, an arts specialist from the University of Bournemouth, "Girl with Balloon" is one of Banksy's most recognizable pieces.
"In 2017, the British public selected it as the most beloved painting of the year. While it wasn't based on a large-scale survey (just 2,000 participants), the results were quite remarkable, surpassing renowned artists like Turner and Constable," he noted.
One copy was partly torn apart after being sold for over £1 million at auction in 2018.
"It certainly holds a place in the British mindset," he continued.
Last month, Banksy revealed a new collection of art pieces inspired by animals, which are scattered throughout the city, including one located at London Zoo.
Featuring extra contributions from Nicky Schiller.
