"A 270,000 Banksy print was stolen from a central London gallery in just over 30 seconds, a court has heard. Larry Fraser, 48, has pleaded guilty to burglary, jurors at Kingston Crown Court have heard, but 54-year-old James Love faces trial over the theft. Fraser smashed the glass front door of the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia at around 23:00 BST on 8 September 2024, stepped inside and stole a limited edition print belonging to the street artist's Girl with Balloon series."
"Prosecutors allege Mr Love, said to own a large number of love-heart based pictures, drove to the gallery on the morning of the burglary and helped store the print after it was stolen. The prosecution also alleges Mr Love was in regular contact with Fraser the day of the theft. Thirteen original Banksy artworks, some of which were signed, were selected to be put on display at the Grove Gallery, the court heard."
A limited-edition Banksy print from the Girl with Balloon series, number 72 of 150 and printed in 2004, valued at £270,000, was taken from the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia. Larry Fraser, 48, pleaded guilty to burglary after allegedly smashing the gallery's glass front door at about 23:00 BST on 8 September 2024, entering and removing the work. CCTV showed about 36 seconds elapsed between a masked man beginning to break in and leaving with the print. Prosecutors allege James Love, 54, drove to the gallery that morning, helped store the print afterwards and was in regular contact with Fraser on the day. The print was later left in a nearby property.
Read at www.bbc.com
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