Man arrested in connection to theft of Banksy artwork in south London
London police announced on Saturday the arrest of a man in relation to the theft of a Banksy artwork from a south London street. The Metropolitan Police stated that the man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage in connection to the incident.
Witnesses had taken photos and recorded video of the man removing a red stop sign with three military drones on it just hours after the artwork was posted on the artist’s Instagram page. The artwork, located in the Peckham area of south London, was interpreted by many as a call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Banksy, known for his thought-provoking street art, has often targeted themes such as war in his work. The theft of his artwork has sparked controversy and outrage in the community.
In a recorded video, a man was seen cutting the sign off its post with bolt cutters after climbing onto a bicycle, with another man assisting by holding the bike steady. The man who cut the sign off then ran away with it.
The Metropolitan Police had urged the public to come forward with any information about the incident, which led to the arrest of the suspect. The stop sign has since been replaced, but the local council is calling for the return of the stolen artwork so that the community can continue to enjoy Banksy’s work.
This is not the first time one of Banksy’s artworks has been targeted. In December 2022, Ukrainian police arrested eight people who were attempting to remove a Banksy mural in the capital, Kyiv.
The incident has left witnesses and the community “bemused,” with many unsure of how to respond to the theft. The deputy leader of the local council, Jasmine Ali, expressed the community’s desire for the return of the artwork, stating that it “should not have been removed.”