The AP is
reporting that twelve people have been indicted in Prince George's County, MD for the theft of textbooks from the county library system. "Prince George's County authorities said the suspects, at least some of whom were related [and who range in age from 20 to 51], withdrew close to the limit of 75 books from 12 of the library system's 18 locations. Each is charged with theft over $500 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison." Authorities said local colleges were also hit, with the total worth of stolen items approaching $140,000.
"'They're traveling quite far and wide for the little bit of money they get,' said Mary Eilerman, chief of security at Harford Community College, also victimized. 'They were ripping off the bar codes and handing them over to book consignment shops as quickly as they could.' Eilerman said a $100 textbook would yield about $3 or $4 at a consignment shop. She said one of the suspects told her she was using the cash from the thefts to buy Ecstasy."
I'm surprised we're not seeing more of this, frankly.
