Libraries: Patron loads up books, then sells

Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 4, 2007 at midnight

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Authorities say they have busted a serial book bandit who roamed Front Range -libraries checking out thousands of books, tapes and DVDs and then selling many of them online.

Library losses are estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars, CBS 4 News reported.

The borrowing habits of Thomas Pilaar, 33, were anything but subtle, officials say.

He took out seven library cards from Denver Public Library under different names, then checked out 300 items per card. Officials said he began selling items on Craigslist. com.

In Douglas County, librarians were stunned to discover one patron had $11,000 worth of overdue material, mostly pricey coffee-table books and DVDs.

"One day when he tried to check out 100 (items) or so, we said: 'That's probably enough,' " James LaRue, Douglas County's head librarian, told CBS 4 News investigator Brian Maass. "So, we stopped him at that point and said, 'You know other people want these things, too.' "

Pilaar was arrested Saturday on an unrelated parole violation, said Lynn Kimbrough of the Denver District Attorney's Office. He's being investigated for theft and is being held without bond at the Denver County Jail

Denver Public Library spokeswoman M. Celeste Jackson estimated losses at $35,000. Aurora and Arapahoe County libraries said they also were victimized.

gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5486

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