Two men charged after theft of Banksy's 'Girl with Balloon'

Two men have been charged with burglary following the theft of Banksy's iconic artwork, Girl with Balloon, from a London gallery. The artwork, valued at £270,000, was stolen from the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia just before midnight on Sunday.

As reported by Metro UK, CCTV footage captured one of the thieves smashing a window and entering the gallery, where they grabbed the Banksy piece and fled on foot through Tottenham Court Road amidst cars and pedestrians.

The gallery was closing its two-week exhibition of Banksy works when the theft occurred. Following the incident, the case was swiftly handed over to the Flying Squad, a specialized unit of the Metropolitan Police. The artwork has since been recovered.

Grove Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj discovered the theft early Monday and informed both the police and Gallery CEO James Ryan. After reviewing security footage and gathering statements, authorities identified two suspects involved in the crime.

James Ryan praised the Flying Squad for their prompt response, expressing his shock and gratitude. He described the theft as “devastating and heartbreaking” and highlighted the gallery’s intention to honor Banksy’s work through the exhibition.

The Girl with Balloon series, featuring a child reaching for a red, heart-shaped balloon, first appeared in Shoreditch in 2002. The artwork gained notoriety in 2018 when a version was partially shredded at Sotheby's auction, only to be resold for £18.6 million three years later.

[Information sourced from Metro UK]