The work, three aircraft which appear to be combat drones on a stop sign, appeared on Friday morning at a crossroads in the Peckham district of south-east London.
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A man suspected of running away with a road sign in London on which a work claimed by Banksy appeared was arrested, police announced on Saturday, December 23, the day after the theft. The work, three aircraft which appear to be combat drones on a stop sign, appeared on Friday morning at a crossroads in the Peckham district of south-east London. The enigmatic artist quickly posted a photo of it on Instagram, through which he usually authenticates his creations.
Less than an hour later, witnesses filmed a man, perched on a bicycle, dismantling the panel using cutting pliers, with the help of another man. The video, released below by the Guardian and which made the rounds on social networks, then shows him running off with the work.
London police initially said they had not received any reports on this subject. But Southwark City Council, responsible in particular for signage in this area, said on Friday evening that it wished to recover the sign and had reported the incident to the police. On Saturday evening, police announced that a man had been arrested and remained in custody. “This incident is currently under investigation.”added a spokesperson for the London police, without giving further details on the individual arrested.
Other works already stolen
Several works by Banksy have already been stolen in the past, including a door from the Parisian Bataclan room, which paid tribute to the victims of the November 13 attacks. Others have been compromised, like a mural denouncing domestic violence, representing a housewife with a look from the 1950s or 1960s, disfigured by a black eye and a broken tooth, while the a man’s legs protrude from an old, very real, horizontal freezer placed against the wall. The freezer was quickly removed for safety reasons, confusing the understanding of the work, before being reinstalled.