[CPProt.net] New Zealand: Police make seventh arrest in book-theft investigation

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Police make seventh arrest in book-theft investigation 
 
29.04.05

  
A seventh person has been arrested and charged over an alleged nationwide
book scam. 

The charges, laid on April 22, relate to a police operation that in May last
year began investigating the theft of rare books from libraries by a group. 

The thefts, which took place over six years, resulted in a large number of
books being stolen to order, most of which were resold. 

Six people were arrested last September and charged in connection with the
theft of 1640 books with an estimated value of $500,000. 

Further stolen books were recovered after the arrests, and a Christchurch
book dealer was also arrested and charged last Friday. Police recovered 217
books from him that they suspect were stolen. 

A large number of the books were stolen from the libraries of Canterbury,
Auckland, Waikato, Massey, Victoria, Lincoln and Otago universities,
Christchurch College of Education, Canterbury Museum and public libraries in
Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. 

One person, Lee John Simpson, 44, was jailed for 5 1/2 years after admitting
70 charges relating to book theft. Five other people are before the courts.