A man was sentenced to 13 months in prison for the theft of a work of art Banksy valued at more than 355 thousand dollarsstolen from a gallery in London, Englandin an assault that the Metropolitan Police described as “a quick and violent blow.”
The sentence was handed down this Friday, November 14, at Kingston Crown Court, where Larry Fraser49, had already admitted one count of burglary of a non-residential property.
The case originated on September 8, 2024, when an individual forcibly entered Grove Gallery, in Fitzrovia, and took the print called “Girl with Balloon” – The girl with balloons-, created in 2024 and which bears the signature of the british artist.
Larry Fraser was sentenced to 13 months in prison for the theft of a Banksy work valued at more than $355,000. Photo: London Metropolitan Police.The gallery’s security cameras recorded how the thief, who hid his identity with a mask, gloves and a hooded jacket, He broke the glass doors with a hammer.
According to London’s Metropolitan Police, the investigation moved quickly. The specialized Flying Squad team identified the suspect in a matter of hours and located him in streets near the gallery. There, the agents confirmed – through security cameras – that Fraser loaded the work into a van before escaping.
Fraser was arrested on September 11 at his home in Beckton. The force highlighted that the arrest was made less than 48 hours after the robbery and that the accused faced formal charges the next day.
Undercover operation and raid: the recovery of «Girl with Balloon»
The recovery of the work also occurred in exceptional times. Flying Squad officers carried out undercover inquiries and carried out a raid on the Isle of Dogs September 12where they found the stolen piece.
The work “Girl with Balloon” was stolen from Grove Gallery, in Fitzrovia, on September 8, 2024. Photo: London Metropolitan Police.Detective Chief Inspector Scott Matherresponsible for the operation, explained that Banksy’s work «is known throughout the world» and stated that the objective was «not only to bring Fraser to justice, but also to return the art to the gallery.»
«The speed of this process reflects the tireless work of the agents. In total, four days were enough to restore normality,” he highlighted in a statement.
Mather acknowledged that commercial thefts raise concern in affected environments. “The Met is committed to the safety of Londoners and will act quickly when crimes occur,” he said.
From the gallery, the manager Eastern Mehmetaj He publicly thanked the police action. He admitted that he felt “completely surprised, but in a very positive way” when the agents showed him the recovered work. “It is difficult to explain the relief”he expressed.
Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj points to Banksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’, which is seen in a police evidence bag at Grove Gallery where it was returned after being stolen, in London, Britain, September 13, 2024. REUTERS/Mina Kim NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.Mehmetaj praised the detectives’ approach. He said that the response from the first moment was “pragmatic, logical, very calm and professional.” He also maintained that Seeing the piece again under protection “is extraordinary.”
The case included a second defendant. James Love54, was put on trial and acquitted on September 19. The court found him not guilty of the same charge, London’s Metropolitan Police reported.
