Police called in after Banksy art worth up to £500,000 removed by man

23 December 2023 , 15:29

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A person removes a piece of art work by Banksy, which shows what looks like three drones on a traffic stop sign (Image: PA)

Police have launched an investigation after a man removed a south London street sign featuring work by famous artist Banksy.

The infamous artist confirmed he was behind the sign on social media, sharing images of the traffic stop sign covered in three aircrafts after midday on December 22. The stop sign was installed at the intersection of Southampton Way and Commercial Way in Peckham, south London.

However, within an hour of the installation being unveiled, a man with bolt-cutters removed the sign - with witnesses capturing the moment by taking photos. Balanced precariously on a Lime Bike, one of the two men attacked the back of the sign with bolt cutters before nearly falling off. It is understood Banksy was not behind the removal..

The street artist is known for his installations like the stop sign, erecting them in public before later claiming them. His works have been found across the world.

Currently, Metropolitan Police are treating it as theft, with officers yet to make any arrests. To avoid endangering road users, the Met said a new traffic sign has currently been installed.

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It's thought that the art-work could be worth up to £500,000. Banksy's Instagram followers widely interpreted his latest work as calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after he confirmed the authenticity on his social media.

A man ran off with the sign shortly after it was unveiled (PA)

Southwark Council's Jasmine Ali told the BBC : "We are not just talking about a street sign here, it is a work of art which was put there for the community. "It is street art and it is for the people."

A Met spokesman added: "We are aware of footage being shared which shows the sign being removed. Anyone who may have information about the incident or the whereabouts of the sign is asked to call police."

While the incident has been reported to the Met Police, art gallery owner John Brandler questioned whether it was a "publicity stunt", with the media attention making the item "more valuable."

Banksy has revealed other eye-catching artwork this year including Valentine's Day Mascara, a mural weighing 3.8 tonnes, which appeared on the side of a house in Margate, Kent, on Valentine's Day. It depicted a 1950s housewife with a swollen eye and missing tooth, wearing an apron and yellow washing-up gloves, and throwing a man into a chest freezer.

As well as that, four years ago Banksy set up a shop in Croydon featuring the stab vest he designed for Stormzy's headline act at the Glastonbury festival.

Kieren Williams