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Banksy work stolen from gallery 'in 36 seconds'

London, UKLocal News

A Banksy print valued at £270,000 was stolen from the Grove Gallery in London in just over 30 seconds, according to Kingston Crown Court. Larry Fraser, 48, pleaded guilty to the burglary, while James Love, 54, denies the charges and faces trial. Fraser smashed the gallery's glass door and took a limited edition print from Banksy's Girl with Balloon series. CCTV footage confirmed the rapid theft, with gallery owner James Ryan noting the artwork's limited edition status of just 150 prints. The prosecution claims Love drove to the gallery and helped store the stolen print after its removal.

Night watchman Sukhvinder Singh described his shock when two men rushed into the property and took the artwork. He recounted their hurried behavior, stating they were only present for a couple of minutes. The trial continues, highlighting the increasing concern over art thefts and security measures at galleries.

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