£270,000 Banksy artwork stolen from London exhibition and recovered by police could now ROCKET in value, says gallery manager
According to the gallery owner, a Banksy artwork stolen during an exhibition in London and recovered by police could now increase dramatically in value.
Two men have been charged over the theft of the Girl with the Balloon print, which was stolen from the Grove Gallery on Sunday evening by a masked figure who smashed through the glass door.
CCTV footage shows the thief making a hole big enough to climb through, before ripping the artwork off the wall and running away.
The fingerprint was returned and two men, Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, were charged with burglary and taken into custody.
Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj said he hopes the alleged theft has actually increased the value of the artwork.
Banksy’s Girl With Balloon print now sits in an inconspicuous office in the gallery, wrapped in a police bag, and the other artwork has been removed and placed in safe storage.
Two men have been charged over the theft of the print of the girl with the balloon, which was stolen from the Grove Gallery on Sunday night by a masked figure who smashed through the glass door
More than £1.8 million worth of art was on display when the robbers broke into the art gallery
“When art and masterpieces are stolen, the financial value of it can skyrocket,” he said. “I would say up front that the limited signed Banksy print was valued at around £270,000. Whether it has doubled, tripled or quadrupled in value, we’ll have to wait and see, but that’s usually what happens.”
At the time, the gallery held over £1.8 million worth of art. The gallery is currently hosting an exhibition of the artist’s work, Breakout: Banksy’s London Rebellion.
The stolen artwork now sits in an unassuming office in the gallery, wrapped in a police bag. The other artwork has been removed and is in safe storage.
Fraser, from Beckton in east London, and Love, from North Stifford, Essex, appeared at Wimbledon Crown Court on Thursday and will appear at Kingston Crown Court on October 9.