Surveillance video shows man stealing Banksy artwork from Toronto show

Surveillance video released by Toronto policeon Thursday shows a man stealing a$45,000 Banksy artwork called Trolley Hunters from a new exhibit of the British street artist's work.

Police say the thief entered theexhibit, set in a west end industrial building at213 Sterling Rd.,through an "interior door" around 5 a.m. on Sunday before the show's public opening.

The video captures the man covering his face with a black sweater and light camouflage baseball hat ashe enters the main gallery space. Moments later he's seen sneaking away carrying a single piece of art, while many more are left on nearby walls.

Trolley Hunters was on display as part of the $35-million Art ofBanksyexhibit, which is not sanctioned by the reclusive artist. The exhibit was set to show 80Banksypieces, with tickets going for $35 each.

Corey Ross, a co-ordinator of the exhibit, told reporters at a hastily called news conference on Thursday thatthe artwork went missing during the exhibit's setup.

The day before, however,bothcurator SteveLazaridesand the show's publicist,DanielleIversen, had refused to confirm any arthad been reported stolen or to comment on the police investigation.

Iversendenied any suggestion the surveillance video wasfakeor a publicity stunt. Shesaid the thief may have taken only one Banksypieceout of fear of discovery.

It's unclear who owns the stolen piece of art.

A London gallery selling prints of Trolley Huntersdescribes it as a comment on food availability and consumption.

"Banksy considers how mankind has progressed towards a regression which sees ready-made meals available to the masses," reads the description on the Andipa Gallery's website.