Hotel chain invites guests to steal artwork

As research has proved, guests will steal plenty of things from hotels given the chance -- but most would draw the line at a piece of art valued in the thousands.

As research has proved, guests will steal plenty of things from hotels given the chance -- but most would draw the line at a piece of art valued in the thousands.

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One hotel, however, is inviting guests to steal art, in a clever promotion drawn up by Art Series Hotels, an Australian chain, for the summer.

Guests who book a room at the chain's properties between December 15 and January 15 are being challenged to 'steal' a Banksy print worth AU$15,000 (around €11,500) -- with the promise that they can keep it if they successfully pull off the heist.

The print, "No Ball Games," has been authenticated and signed by Banksy and will be circulating through Art Series' three Melbourne hotels -- The Olsen, The Cullen and The Blackman -- during the month.

Any guest that manages to make off with the piece will be allowed to keep it, the hotel says, but those caught in the act will have to return it to be hung on the wall..

The promotion is a clever twist on Banksy's own statements on art -- the Britain-based artist has been known to sneak into galleries and hang his work alongside the curated works -- and also pokes fun at several thieves who have attempted to remove the graffitied art from streets to sell.

However, less playful art theft from hotels isn't unheard of and the promotion may be a little too close to the bone for two New York hotels, the Chambers Hotel and Carlyle Hotel, each of which lost thousands of dollars' worth of art earlier this year in a broad-daylight heist.

The paintings were recently discovered at the home of 31-year old Mark Lugo of New Jersey, who appeared in court last week accused of the theft.

Steal Banksy from Art Series Hotels on Vimeo.