Man jailed for stealing Banksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’ print in smash-and-grab London robbery

Question

A man named Larry Fraser was sentenced to 13 months in prison after he broke into a London gallery and stole a numbered, signed Banksy print from the “Girl with Balloon” series. He smashed through the gallery’s glass front door while wearing a mask, grabbed the artwork, and fled. Despite his attempt to disguise himself, police identified him through surveillance cameras and apprehended him within days, recovering the piece unharmed.

In court, Fraser said he committed the burglary because he was under pressure from a long-standing drug debt. The judge called the crime bold and serious, refusing to suspend his sentence. The gallery’s manager expressed deep relief at the swift recovery of the rare and valuable print.

Answer 1

The claim that a man was jailed for stealing Banksy’s Girl with Balloon print in a smash-and-grab robbery in London is accurate and supported by multiple credible sources. Reporting from outlets such as Al Jazeera, Sky News, and The Straits Times confirms that a man was convicted and sentenced to prison after stealing a Girl with Balloon print from a London gallery during a smash-and-grab burglary. Court reporting indicates that the artwork was a well-known Banksy print, the theft was captured on surveillance footage, and the piece was later recovered by authorities. Law enforcement and court officials treated the crime as a serious offense due to the high value and cultural significance of the artwork. While media outlets may emphasize the notoriety of Banksy to attract readership, their accounts are consistent on the key facts of the case, and there is no substantial evidence undermining the claim.