A suspect is in custody after a London stop sign that appeared to display the work of elusive street artist Banksy was removed Friday, police said.
A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage in connection with the removal of the road sign in Peckham, southeast London, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Saturday.
A Banksy drone artwork covers a stop sign in London on December 22, 2023, in this image from social media.
Joe Brown via Portal
The piece – a red stop sign with three military drones on it – debuted on the corner of Commercial Way on Friday. Banksy posted photos of the work on his Instagram account without a caption.
Shortly after the work appeared, a man was filmed and photographed removing the sign with bolt cutters and fleeing the scene.
“We are aware that footage was shared showing the sign being removed,” police said.
A person removes a Banksy artwork depicting what looks like three drones on a traffic stop sign unveiled at the junction of Southampton Way and Commercial Way in Peckham, London, on December 22, 2023.
Aaron Chown/PA via AP
A person removes a Banksy artwork depicting what looks like three drones on a traffic stop sign unveiled at the junction of Southampton Way and Commercial Way in Peckham, London, on December 22, 2023.
Aaron Chown/PA via AP
The stop sign has now been replaced “to avoid endangering road users,” the police said.
The whereabouts of the sign are currently unknown. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them.
A gallery owner told the BBC that the piece could be worth up to 500,000 pounds – about $635,000.
Jasmine Ali, deputy leader of Southwark Council, which represents the region, called for the Banksys to be returned to Peckham.
“It’s a shame it was taken away because it belongs to all of us,” Ali said said on social media on Friday. “We want it back so everyone in the community can enjoy it.”
Beyond the Instagram post, Banksy has not publicly commented on the work or its removal.