A crook who brazenly swiped a £270,000 Banksy print from a London gallery has been locked up for 13 months. Larry Fraser, 49, carried out the daring daylight smash-and-grab – but the Met’s elite Flying Squad swooped in and nabbed him, recovering the priceless artwork within four days.
Daylight Smash-and-Grab Stuns London Gallery
It all went down on Sunday, 8 September 2024, at the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia. Fraser smashed glass doors with a hammer, wearing a mask, gloves, and a hooded jacket to cover his tracks. His prize? Banksy’s legendary Girl with Balloon 2004 signed print, valued at an eye-watering £270,000.
Flying Squad Quashes Quick Getaway
The thief thought he was slick, but CCTV footage caught Fraser loading the print into a van just streets away. The Flying Squad tracked him to his Beckton home and arrested him on Tuesday, 10 September – less than 48 hours after the heist.
Swift Justice Hits Art Thief Hard
Fraser appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 9 October, and pleaded guilty to one count of non-residential burglary. On Friday, 14 November, he was sentenced to 13 months in prison. The rapid recovery and harsh sentencing send a sharp warning to anyone tempted to nick high-value art.
