Steal Banksy is Over

Well the score ended up being even. One to the crooks, one to us! Whilst there were many attempts at ‘Pulp Fiction’ (our second Banksy for the taking) ranging from the most cunning – a stellar tradesmen impersonation (ladder and all), to the most brazen – a hit and run, it seems our staff’s ability to stop crime improved tenfold since the early loss of “No Ball Games.” We now have a new found respect for those involved in crime stopping so we’ve decided to donate the Banksy to Crime Stoppers who will use it to raise some dollars to continue on in their noble pursuit of crooks.

**NOTE**

This offer is now closed and the theft of any of our art, eating utensils, or other Art Series paraphernalia will now be looked upon with distain and reported to the police (and our friends at Crime Stoppers).

Thanks go out to all the brave souls who attempted to Steal Banksy. It's been fun.

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One Down, One to Go

No Ball Games is gone. Successfully stolen in a heist worthy of Thomas Crown himself. Just as we wanted it. But don’t pack up your black turtlenecks, masks and loot sacks just yet; we have another for your dexterous digits – Banksy’s Pulp Fiction.

This Banksy original hanging until January 15th is your final chance to steal without being thrown in prison and brings the total Steal Banksy bounty to $20,000. But you’d better have a good plan because no one here wants to lose it on their watch – again.

 

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It’s Gone

The Banksy No Ball Games was successfully “stolen” from the Blackman Hotel this morning (Monday 19th) at 8:05AM by Maura Tuohy and her accomplice Megan Aney. The theft was carried out in classic art crook style- right under our noses.

The Theft

Maura Tuohy checked into the hotel on Saturday night pretending to be from an Art Series Hotel agency. She claimed she worked with various members of the agency team and told hotel staff that she was asked to drive the painting to another hotel.

Highly suspicious staff asked for a number to phone in order to verify her story. Tuohy provided the number of her accomplice, Megan Aney, who verified the story. After a dozen more questions she then walked the artwork right out of the hotel with the help of the hotel staff, put it in her car, and returned 15 minutes later to brag about her cunning and guile. Excellent work.

The heist was a success and followed several failed attempts by other hotel guests including the hacking of three CCTV cameras focused on the Banksy, a listening device being placed underneath the desk at Reception and guests phoning Reception with housekeeping issues in an attempt to get them to step away from the painting.

Get the full story here.

 

The Next Banksy 

A second Banksy original “Pulp Fiction” is now hanging. You have until January 15th to steal it. Remember rule number two from our competition terms: Be cool – art thieves are always cool.

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The Original Challenge

The art at Art Series Hotels is not for stealing. But this Summer, we’re shifting the goalposts and hiding a Banksy in one of our Hotels for you to steal. The $15,000 masterpiece is one of just a handful of signed and authenticated Banksy's available in Australia. Find it, as it does the rounds of our hotels, and it could be yours...

The Bounty

'No Ball Games’ is part of a series of historical note. In 2007 a group of bandits removed a section of a wall with an angle grinder because Banksy had stencilled around the 'No Ball Games' sign on it. The wall was later found on ebay for sale for 20,000 pounds. The lengths some people go to…

Art has a history of theft and heist, one which Melbourne features in. In 1986 Picasso’s Weeping Woman was stolen from the NGV and held for ransom. It was later found in a locker at Spencer Street Station – ransom unpaid. Banksy, being Banksy has also done the reverse, and has actually snuck his work into famous galleries to hang alongside more traditional curated art.

So now it’s your turn. We want to see if you can steal Banksy. We highly recommend against an angle grinder, but you will need plenty of guile and cunning.

Find the art and try and steal it. If you don't get caught it's yours to keep. If you do get caught then back up on the wall it goes.

No Ball Games will hang from 15 December. Book to stay at Art Series Hotels between 15 Dec and 15 Jan, follow us on Twitter and Facebook for hints on its whereabouts, and let the games begin.