Two men have been charged with burglary after a Banksy artwork was stolen from a London gallery.
Larry Fraser, 47 , and James Love, 53, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with with non-residential burglary after Girl with Balloon was stolen.
Following an investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad, the work was recovered and is set to be returned.
Fraser, of Beckton, East London, and Love, from North Stifford, Essex, were charged on Thursday, 11 September, with non-residential burglary and remanded in Police Custody.
Both appeared in court on Thursday, September 12, where they were bailed to next appear at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, October 9.
Larry Fraser, 47 , and James Love, 53, have been charged with burglary after Banksy’s Girl with Balloon (pictured) was stolen from a London gallery in New Cavendish Street
The investigation was launched after a burglary at a gallery in New Cavendish Street, at around 11pm on Sunday, September 8.
A Met Police statement confirmed Banksy’s Girl with Balloon was the only item stolen and it has now been recovered and will be returned to the gallery.
The work, depicting a young girl in black graffiti who has just let go of a red heart-shaped balloon, is one of the street artist’s most recognisable pieces.
It was first seen in Waterloo’s South Bank in 2002 next to the quotation: ‘There is always hope.’
More to follow.