THIS is the moment Banksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’ is seemingly stolen by crooks in a 37-second job.
The anonymous street artist’s work was nicked during a heist at Grove Gallery, in London, on Sunday.
A man was caught on CCTV smashing into Grove GalleryClick News and Media
A man can then be seen taking Banksy’s artwork off the wall
Click News and MediaBanksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’ was taken on Sunday[/caption]
Click News and MediaGrove Gallery was smashed in on Sunday[/caption]
Footage from inside the Grove shows one hooded man approach the doors.
The man, dressed all in black, can been seen pounding the glass with a hammer-like object top make the initial break.
He then repeatedly shoulder-barges the shattered door and enters.
Brazen, he walks through the folded-in glass and picks Banksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’ off its hook before leaving.
Banksy’s piece was the only item taken during the break-in where entrance doors was smashed to smithereens.
It has now been recovered and is being returned to the Grove.
It comes after Met Police charged two men with burglary.
Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where they were bailed.
Both will next be seen at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, October 9.
Known for being one of Banksy’s most iconic works, the art shows a young girl reaching out towards a red, heart-shaped balloon.
It isn’t the first time the artist’s work has been nicked.
Just last month, his Peckham Wolf satellite piece was stolen.
Last year a man was also arrested after a £500,000 Banksy artwork was removed from a street sign with bolt cutters.
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