New Banksy Stop Sign Art Stolen Within an Hour of Unveiling
A recent addition to London’s street art scene comes courtesy of Banksy, with the anonymous artist unveiling a distinctive piece on December 22. The artwork, shared on Instagram, features a traffic stop sign adorned with three aircraft resembling military drones, a creation uniquely Banksy.
Within an hour of its public debut at the intersection of Southampton Way and Commercial Way in Peckham, South London, the piece was swiftly taken down by two individuals, as captured in a video and Getty Images. Authorities were promptly notified, ensuring the replacement of the removed stop sign. Interestingly, Banksy is not linked to this removal, and two individuals have been apprehended on suspicion of stealing the artwork. The thieves reportedly employed bolt cutters and a Lime bicycle for the illicit removal.
While the precise message behind the stop sign piece—potentially a call for ceasefires in Gaza—remains unconfirmed by Banksy, the significance of the artwork is undeniable. The notoriety surrounding this public theft makes it challenging for the perpetrators to discreetly sell the purloined Banksy artwork to the public.
