Rare prints by graffiti artist Banksy have been stolen during two raids on an art gallery.

Thieves stole ten pieces of work worth a total of nearly £10,000 from Art Republic in Bond Street, Brighton.

Police believe the shop was targeted specifically for the Banksy prints.

And they are investigating the possibility the pictures could have been stolen to order for someone.

PC Rachel Piggott, of Sussex Police, said: "The similarities between each break-in suggests that the gallery was purposely targeted for the Banksy works.

"His artwork is very desirable but extremely rare and difficult to get hold of, therefore I urge any galleries to contact us if they are offered these works for sale.

"The Reservoir Troopers print, whilst not a Banksy artwork, is similar in style and may have been mistaken for a Banksy print by the suspects.

"Given the size of the stolen property, it appears likely that the suspects have made their way to a nearby vehicle.

"The two men are described as white, between 16 and 20 years old, one wearing a black hoody and one wearing a grey hoody and carrying a black record bag."

The first break-in took place on Sunday May 20 at about 5am.

Six framed, limited edition screen-prints were stolen - "Morons", "Jack and Jill", "Virgin Mary", "Napalm", "Welcome to Hell" and "Gangsta Rat."

Witnesses saw two men smash a window into the shop and leave moments later with the pictures.

On May 24 thieves struck again, at 2am, taking another three pieces by Banksy, "Gangsta Rat", Welcome to Hell" and "Virgin Mary."

A piece by the Scrawl Collective entitled "Reservoir Troopers" was also taken.

Witnesses again reported seeing two men leaving the shop through a smashed window and running up a side alleyway leading to Jew Street. In 2006, one of the "guerrilla" artist's most well-known pieces was daubed with black paint by vandals.

The two kissing policeman, which was daubed on the side of The Prince Albert in Trafalgar Street in Brighton, has now been restored and covered in a plastic sheet to protect it from further attacks.

Later in the year, The Argus reported the artist had placed fake versions of a Paris Hilton CD in a record shop in Brighton.

Famous owners of his work include Angelina Jolie.

Anyone with information can contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.