Two Charged in Banksy Artwork Theft

Two men, Larry Fraser and James Love, have been charged with burglary following the theft of Banksy's iconic artwork 'Girl with Balloon' from the Grove Gallery in London. The incident occurred on September 8, when surveillance footage captured one of the suspects smashing the gallery's glass door to steal the piece, valued at approximately $355,000. Fortunately, the artwork was recovered by police shortly after the theft, and both suspects have since made their initial court appearance. The 'Girl with Balloon' artwork has a storied history, including a notorious incident in 2018 when a version of it shredded itself at auction. Banksy's work remains immensely popular, with 'Girl with Balloon' being voted the UK's favorite artwork in a 2017 poll. The suspects are scheduled to appear again in court on October 9.