A crook who nicked a £270,000 Banksy print from a London gallery has been jailed for 13 months. Larry Fraser, 49, pulled off the daring daylight robbery but the Met’s Flying Squad had him in custody and the artwork back within four days.
Speedy Smash-and-Grab on London Gallery
It all went down on Sunday, 8 September 2024, at the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia. Fraser smashed through the glass doors with a hammer, hiding his face under a mask, gloves, and a hooded jacket. His target? Banksy’s iconic “Girl with Balloon” 2004 signed print, valued at a whopping £270,000.
Flying Squad Nixes the Getaway
Despite the thief’s stealth, the Met’s Flying Squad had him pegged fast. CCTV footage showed Fraser loading the artwork into a van just streets from the scene. Officers tracked him down to his Beckton home and arrested him on Tuesday, 10 September — less than 48 hours after the heist.
Justice Served at Kingston Crown Court
Fraser faced Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 9 October and pleaded guilty to one count of non-residential burglary. He was sentenced on Friday, 14 November to 13 months behind bars. The swift recovery and sentencing send a clear warning to art thieves everywhere.
