Hammer Attack on London Gallery Leads to High-Value Art Theft
A 48-year-old man from East London has been sentenced to more than a year in prison for the audacious theft of one of Banksy's most celebrated works, Girl With Balloon. Larry Fraser, of Beckton, received his 13-month prison sentence at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 14th November 2025.
The Night of the Burglary
The incident unfolded at approximately 11pm on 8th September last year at the Grove Gallery on New Cavendish Street. Fraser used a hammer to violently smash through the glass entrance door, gaining unlawful entry to the premises.
Once inside, he targeted the iconic artwork, valued at an astonishing £270,000. In an attempt to evade identification, Fraser wore a mask, a hooded jacket, and gloves. He was captured on CCTV loading the stolen painting into a van before making his escape from the scene.
The Rapid Police Investigation
The Metropolitan Police's specialist Flying Squad was quick to respond. Despite Fraser's efforts to conceal his identity, officers successfully identified him and tracked his movements to a location just streets away from the gallery.
Fraser was arrested at his home address on 10th September and was formally charged the following day. The investigation led officers to execute a warrant on the Isle of Dogs, where they successfully recovered the priceless artwork. The painting has since been safely returned to the Grove Gallery.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Mather, who led the investigation, praised the operation. He stated: "Banksy's Girl With Balloon is known across the world - and we reacted immediately to not just bring Fraser to justice but also reunite the artwork with the gallery. The speed at which this took place is a testament to the tireless work of the flying squad officers - in total it took just four days for normality to be restored."
Lindy Mehmetaj, the manager of the Grove Gallery, expressed his relief, describing the recovery of the artwork as "remarkable" following the brazen theft.
In a related development, a second man, 53-year-old James Love from Essex, was found not guilty of non-residential burglary in a hearing on 19th September.
