A scrum of media gathered on the pavement outside the Grove Gallery on New Cavendish Street in Fitzrovia this morning after news reports of a “heist” on Sunday in which a Banksy artwork was stolen then returned by the police a few days later.
The Sun reported on it first, complete with CCTV footage of a masked burglar breaking through the front door before removing the “Girl with balloon” painting off the wall and legging it down the street.
Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj told The Sun that it was the “most horrific experience of my life” and the gallery had never been robbed before.
The gallery had been holding an exhibition of Banksy artworks, entitled “Breakout: Banksy’s London Rebellion“. The burglary occurred on the very weekend the exhibition had come to the end of its run.
Police returned the painting to the gallery this week. Two men have been arrested and charged with burglary.
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