Forget that car stereo or your old copper pipes. What thieves are really after are your used books. That’s right, there’s a huge crime spree — people stealing books, then pawning them off at used book shops for a buck apiece.
At least, I assume that’s what’s happening since Peoria Police are cracking down on used book shops. They’ve mysteriously started enforcing this little-known ordinance:
Technically, used bookstores fall under the city’s ordinance dealing with secondhand dealers. It requires they keep a register including the following information: “a succinct and accurate description of all property taken, purchased or received,” as well as the full name and description of the person they received it from, including date of birth and home address and a signed statement from that person that they have the legal right to sell the property.
The ordinance also requires they wait a week before selling or trading anything.
Who knew there was such a big black market in stolen books? I’m glad the police are on it. Maybe this will help them find the killer in one of the 11 unsolved homicides of 2006.
Well, this would have to include school books from the college book store as well. This will probably spill over to used video games, computers, basically anything in the classifieds, real estate sales, the list goes on and on.
I understand that they want to crack down on crime, but it’s ridiculous that you can’t sell a used book to a bookstore without having to present your papers…
Paperback crime wave hits Peoria! This is absurd. Why isn’t the Peoria Police Department focussing on the serious crimes instead of wasting taxpayer dollars on such trivialities?
Can I still sell/buy used books at garage sales? I’ll bet any revenue/fines raised from “outlaw” book sellers will go to the museum. Perhaps Peoria police/lawmakers are worried that potential terrorists will be able to buy “How to Fly” manuals, and…..well you know.