This theft took seconds. New facts are emerging.

Details are emerging about the theft of Banksy's "Girl with Balloon" that occurred last year. During questioning, the time frame for the incident was determined.

Although Banksy is primarily a street artist , his works often end up in museums and can fetch astronomical sums at auction. They can also be a tempting target for… thieves .

As a reminder, on September 8, 2024, a work by an anonymous artist worth £270,000 was stolen from the Grove Gallery in central London. It was the famous "Girl with a Balloon."

Larry Fraser, 48, has already pleaded guilty to the theft. He broke the gallery's glass front window around 11 p.m., entered the building, and stole the artwork.

During the court case, gallery owner James Ryan revealed that the entire incident was captured on surveillance cameras and lasted... only 36 seconds. It looks like I'll be writing about this theft for a long time... The footage clearly shows the masked man, his entrance to the gallery, and the moment of his escape.

Interestingly, the London gallery was hosting an exhibition titled "Banksy's London Rebellion" at the time, which also featured other works by the King of Street Art . Grove Gallery told BBC News that at the time of the break-in , the exhibition contained works worth over £1.8 million.

Ryan also confirmed that the stolen print belonged to a private collector and was worth approximately £270,000. Where did this figure come from? The 2004 print was part of a limited edition of 150 copies.

A man named James Love is also believed to be involved in the theft and is awaiting questioning. According to the BBC , he owns a large number of heart-themed paintings. He allegedly helped Fraser hide the artwork after the theft and was in constant contact with him on the day of the burglary.

What happened to the painting after it escaped from the gallery? Fraser moved the Banksy work to a nearby property. From there, according to night watchman Sukhvinder Singh , the artwork was taken by two men who pushed him as he entered the building.

Fortunately, the artwork was found, but the theft remains a mystery. We look forward to seeing how it unfolds!