Satellite dish carrying Banksy artwork has disappeared

Ibex, elephant, monkey and finally a wolf: for several days in a row, new works by the British street artist Banksy have appeared, which he painted in different places in London.

But with the latest work, the joy was short-lived. Shortly after the mysterious artist confirmed his authorship by posting a photo on Instagram, the work painted on a satellite dish was removed by unknown individuals.

In response to an inquiry by the German Press Agency, the Metropolitan Police said it had been contacted about the theft of a satellite dish containing a work of art. No arrests have been made so far and the investigation is ongoing.

The satellite dish bearing the image of a wolf was on the roof of a single-storey shop in Peckham, southeast London. Pictures and videos published by British media showed several masked men using a ladder to reach the roof, dismantling the satellite dish and carrying it away.

Banksy is one of the world’s most famous street artists, with his works selling for millions at auction. Yet he keeps his identity a secret. All that is known is that he hails from the western English city of Bristol. His works, which are mostly spray-painted on houses and which he constantly verifies via Instagram posts, appear at irregular intervals in Great Britain and other countries.

Last December, one of his works – also in Peckham – was removed shortly after it was confirmed. It was a stop sign painted with several military drones. That time too, it was removed and moved in broad daylight by a man with bolt cutters in full view of passersby.