Man jailed for stealing Banksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’ print in smash-and-grab London robbery

A man has been sentenced to more than a year in prison for stealing a signed print of Banksy’s “Girl with Balloon” in a smash-and-grab robbery at a London gallery.

Larry Fraser, 49, received a 13-month prison term for taking the 2004 print — valued at £270,000 (about $355,000) — from Grove Gallery in the upscale Fitzrovia area last September. He pleaded guilty to one count of non-residential burglary, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.

Detectives said members of the Met’s Flying Squad worked quickly to track down the suspect, locating him just a few streets away. CCTV footage showed Fraser loading the artwork into a van before fleeing the scene.

The specialist unit recovered the piece within four days through a combination of Fraser’s arrest and covert investigative work.

Art recovery expert Arthur Brand told CNN that prints are often targeted because multiple copies exist, making them easier to sell than unique paintings. “A one-of-a-kind painting is much harder to move on the black market,” he noted.

Police released video footage showing a hooded man smashing the gallery’s glass door and removing the print from the wall.

Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj, 29, said he was “completely shocked” by the theft and praised the police for their swift response.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Mather said that “Girl with Balloon” is recognized globally as one of Banksy’s most iconic works. “We acted immediately to bring Fraser to justice and reunite the artwork with the gallery,” he said.

Banksy’s famous image of a girl reaching for a red balloon made headlines in 2018 after a similar version self-destructed moments after being sold for $1.4 million at auction.