Arizona Couple Charged in Mesa Public Library Book Theft Scheme
An Arizona couple has been charged with trafficking in stolen property after allegedly stealing hundreds of books from the Mesa Public Library and reselling them to a bookstore. The bookstore alerted library officials when the woman attempted to sell books…
Kansas City, MO, August 14, 2026 —
An Arizona couple is facing charges of trafficking in stolen property following an investigation into the alleged theft of hundreds of books from the Mesa Public Library. The couple is accused of stealing the books and subsequently attempting to resell them to a local bookstore.
The incident came to light when the woman attempted to sell a quantity of books to a bookstore. The bookstore staff noticed that the books still bore library identification labels. This observation prompted the bookstore to contact library officials, initiating a broader inquiry.
Upon reviewing library records, officials discovered that a significant number of books were overdue on accounts associated with the couple. The overdue books represented a substantial financial value, with preliminary estimates suggesting thousands of dollars worth of library property was unaccounted for. The specific number of books stolen and the exact monetary value are still being determined as part of the ongoing investigation.
The charges filed against the couple include trafficking in stolen property. Further details regarding the timeline of the alleged thefts, the exact number of books involved, and any specific dates of attempted sales to the bookstore have not been publicly disclosed. The Mesa Public Library has not issued a formal statement beyond confirming its cooperation with law enforcement in the matter.
Story summarized from the original created by Haley Williams on www.kctv5.com, see more information here.
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