LONDON -- Two men have been charged with burglary over the theft of an artwork by street artist Banksy from a London gallery, police said Friday.

The Metropolitan Police force stated that Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, are alleged to have taken “Girl with Balloon” from the Grove Gallery on Sunday night.

The suspects appeared before Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Thursday and were remanded in custody until their next appearance on Oct. 9.

Police indicated that they have recovered the artwork, which is valued in court documents at 270,000 pounds ($355,000).

The stolen artwork is one of several versions of “Girl with Balloon,” a stencil depicting a child reaching for a heart-shaped red balloon. Originally created on a wall in east London, the image has been widely reproduced, becoming one of Banksy's most iconic pieces.

Another version partially self-destructed during a 2018 auction, passing through a shredder concealed within its frame just after it was sold for 1.1 million pounds ($1.4 million) at Sotheby's.

The self-shredded artwork, retitled “Love is in the Bin,” sold for 18.6 million pounds ($25.4 million at the time) in 2021.

Bansky, who has never publicly confirmed his full identity, began his career by spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the world's most recognized artists. His playful and often satirical images include two policemen kissing, armed riot police with yellow smiley faces and a chimpanzee holding a sign that reads, “Laugh now, but one day I’ll be in charge.”

His paintings and installations sell for millions of dollars at auction and have attracted thieves and vandals .

This summer, a series of animal-themed stencils appeared around London. One of them, a howling wolf depicted on a satellite dish, was removed by a masked individual less than an hour after its authenticity was confirmed. An image of a gorilla at London Zoo and piranhas in a police sentry box in London’s financial district were both removed by the authorities for safekeeping.