Two men charged after Banksy artwork stolen from west London gallery
Two men have been charged with burglary after one of Banksy’s most celebrated works was stolen from a west London gallery.
Larry Fraser, 47, from Beckton, and James Love, 53, from North Stifford, were charged on Thursday with non-residential burglary and remanded in police custody.
Both appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where they were bailed to next appear at Kingston Crown Court on October 9.
The Met’s Flying Squad launched an investigation after an artwork, Girl with Balloon, was reported stolen from a gallery in New Cavendish Street, Marylebone, at around 11pm on Sunday.
The painting has now been recovered, the Met said.
Girl with Balloon was the only artwork stolen and will be returned to the gallery.
Images of a girl reaching up for a heart-shaped red balloon were first stencilled across London by Banksy in 2002, at locations including Waterloo Bridge.
In 2018 a framed copy of the artwork was sold at auction for more than £1million. But, moments after the hammer fell, the canvas dropped through a hidden shredder built into the bottom of the frame.
Pictured top: Girl with Balloon at The Art of Banksy exhibition in 84-86 Regent Street, last summer (Picture: The Art of Banksy)