Book thefts have been prevalent for decades, and book thieves are a dime a dozen. The motives behind book thefts can differ, with individuals stealing them to sell, read, collect or take notes from them. Some individuals dare to borrow books from their loved ones but do not return them. As someone remarked in jest, “The people who don’t return the books they borrow make the best bookkeepers.”
In Udhagamandalam last year, the police apprehended a Bengaluru resident for stealing a 116-year-old book from the Nilgiri Library. The library office bearers were taking stock of the books after the Ooty Literature Fest in October when they found the book missing. The Library filed a complaint with the Nilgiris district police, who then started an investigation. Weeks later, the police received a tip about the book sale on Instagram. With the help of the Cyber Crime Cell, they tracked down the culprit, who admitted to his plan to sell the book for a fancy price.
Book thefts can occur for reasons other than monetary considerations. Years ago, I read about a renowned author who stole an Arabic book from a Cairo library, which had also digitalised the book. It was a rare copy. The author thoroughly read the book and took crucial notes. However, burdened by guilt, he returned to the library years later and admitted to stealing the book. When questioned by the erudite librarian, the author admitted stealing the book because of its rarity and unavailability. The confession moved the librarian so much that he let the author keep the book. But he took the stolen book and wrote, “Gifted to a worthy student who stole this book!”
A book thief prowled second-hand bookstores in the Bengaluru cantonment. He would casually enter bookshops that sold rare and out-of-print books. He handpicked stores that didn’t take surveillance seriously and acted like he was perusing books. The man would make off with a book while the owners were busy attending to other customers. Occasionally, he would purchase some books and discreetly slip an expensive one in the middle. Nobody doubted his integrity, given his polished appearance and attire.
The book thief used to conceal his books in his pocket, bag, or vest before performing the vanishing act. With only a handful of books, his collection grew by leaps and bounds. His cupboards and shelves teemed with books of every kind, and he flaunted them to visitors.
But as time passed, the bookshop owner grew suspicious of the book thief’s activities. One day, the former saw the latter entering the store with nothing but leaving with a noticeable bulge under his shirt. On questioning, he pulled out the stolen book and confessed to his crime. The kind bookstore owner pardoned him after retrieving the book but advised him to stop his errant ways. The bookshop owner’s forgiveness transformed the book thief, making him a reformed individual. He also developed a strong bond with the bookseller and kept purchasing books from his preferred store.
A week ago, the book thief astounded the store owner by bringing his stack of books and giving them away for free. His employers had transferred him to a distant town, and he chose not to burden himself with the cargo of books. He said farewell to his cherished collection with conflicting emotions. Karma has a peculiar way of returning to haunt you!
