A Banksy mural taken from the side of a Wood Green Poundland has been put up for auction in the US with a guide price of up to £450,000.
The art work shows a barefoot boy hunched over a sewing machine and originally had a length of bunting attached.
It disappeared on Saturday. The shop denied it was responsible for its removal.
Poundland posted online: "We would like to confirm that we are not responsible for either selling or removing the Banksy mural. We are currently investigating."
The piece later appeared for auction in Miami, Florida, later this month in an a sale of ‘modern, contemporary and street art’, with a guide price of $500,000 to $700,000 (£322,000 to £451,000).
Councillor Alan Strickland said there was ‘lots of local anger’ at the removal of the mural.
Mr Strickland, cabinet member for economic development at Haringey council, said: ‘Banksy gave this art for free to our community, so we’re all angry that it’s been removed and put on sale for $500,000 in the US.
A Scotland Yard source said officers were aware of the artwork being removed but that there was no suggestion of criminality.
Murals from guerrilla artist Banksy have been sold in the past for hundreds of thousands of pounds. His 2010 film Exit Through the Gift Shop was nominated for an Oscar.
