A man has been sentenced to prison for a brazen smash-and-grab raid in which he stole a valuable Banksy artwork worth a quarter of a million pounds.
The Smash-and-Grab Heist
Larry Fraser, 49, used a hammer to break through the glass doors of the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia, London, on 8 September 2024. The entire incident was captured on the gallery's CCTV system, which recorded Fraser as he smashed his way in and concealed his identity.
Once inside, he targeted a specific piece: a signed print of Banksy's iconic Girl with Balloon. The artwork was valued at an astonishing £270,000. Fraser seized the print and fled the scene, leaving behind broken glass and a gap on the wall.
Motivation and Sentencing
Fraser later pleaded guilty to the charge of non-residential burglary. At court, his defence revealed that he committed the high-value theft because he was under pressure to pay off a drug debt.
He stated that he was acting under what he described as 'a degree of pressure and fear' when he decided to target the gallery. Despite this mitigation, the court handed down a custodial sentence.
Justice Served
The 49-year-old was sentenced to 13 months in prison for his crime. The case highlights the risks that galleries and their invaluable artworks face from determined criminals. The signed Banksy print, one of the artist's most recognisable images, has been at the centre of this dramatic criminal case.
