Police make seventh arrest in book-theft investigation

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.

- NZPA