Police: Man, Woman Stole Art Banner From East River Park

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police Tuesday night were seeking to identify a man and woman who stole an art banner from a fence in East River Park in East Harlem.

Around 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, the suspect took a banner with artwork on it from a fence in the park, placed it in a small sport-utility vehicle, and fled north on the FDR Drive, police said.

The suspect was described as a white male between 25 and 35, who was last seen wearing a multi-colored T-shirt, black shorts and black sandals.

Police have released a photo and video of the man taking the banner.

Police were also seeking a female suspect in the incident, but no image was provided. The woman had blonde hair, police said.

The getaway vehicle was described as a black or gray Honda Element.

Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.

This was not the first time an art banner has been stolen from the site. Back in June, someone took the artwork just four days after it was installed.

The one that was stolen most recently was a replacement.

A group called Friends of the East River Esplanade commissioned an internationally respected artist to transform a black pillar into a colorful totem pole and create the custom banner to hang on a fence.

The artist donated his time and talent, and the conservancy paid nearly $4,000 to print the banner and have it installed.

The artist, Kenny Scharf, posted to Instagram complaining when the banner was stolen the first time.