Banksy's 'Girl With Balloon' Stolen From London Gallery

Expensive Artwork Vanishes

On Friday 6th October, a Banksy artwork valued at £2.5 million was stolen from an art gallery on Maddox Street in London's Mayfair district. The artwork, titled "Girl With Balloon," depicted a young girl reaching out for a red heart-shaped balloon. It was one of the most iconic works by the anonymous street artist Banksy.

CCTV footage being examined

The gallery has released CCTV footage of the incident, which shows a masked man entering the gallery at approximately 8:30 pm and removing the artwork from the wall. The man was seen leaving the gallery with the painting under his arm and fleeing the scene in a waiting car.

Police investigation underway

The police are investigating the theft and have appealed to the public for information. Detective Inspector Matt Mason of the Metropolitan Police Art and Antiques Unit said, "This is a significant theft of a valuable piece of artwork. We are appealing to anyone who may have information about the incident or the whereabouts of the painting to come forward."

Shock and disappointment

The gallery's owner, Steve Lazarides, expressed his shock and disappointment at the theft. He said, "We are devastated by the loss of this iconic artwork. It was one of the most popular pieces in our gallery, and its theft is a great loss to the art world."

Banksy's previous works stolen

This is not the first time that one of Banksy's artworks has been stolen. In 2007, his painting "The Drinker" was stolen from a pub in Bristol. It was later recovered after a ransom demand was made.

Impact on Banksy's value

The theft of "Girl With Balloon" is likely to have a significant impact on the value of Banksy's artworks. Original Banksy artworks are rare, and the theft of one of his most iconic pieces is likely to increase the value of his remaining works.