Library Theft Suspect Arrested...at the Library

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Police have arrested a man accused of using the names of imaginary children on library cards to steal from libraries all over the First Coast.

Ironically, police handcuffed 34-year-old Jermaine Smith at the library.

Investigators say Smith stole nearly $7,000 worth of DVDs, comic books and sounds recordings over two years.

Smith is accused of opening nearly a dozen library cards under fake children's names to steal items, and sell them for cash.

"Sometimes people will open different account under different children's names," said public library spokesperson Stacie Bucher. "When we find a pattern of fraud, we do pursue it."

Authorities found something unusual late last month after discovering Smith's driver's license number on eleven different cards.

Detectives later found out Smith had been selling the items he checked out to pawn shops. Police said he sold 229 DVDs to local stores. Smith admitted to detectives he received $1 per movie. Bucher says this is a crime against taxpayers, the library and people who use Jacksonville's public libraries.

"That's the purpose of the library, for people to borrow materials with their card for free, and if they're not returned, someone else can't check those items out until we order more, so they're out of circulation for several months," said Bucher.

She says now every employee is trained to recognize fraud and help stop it, because it is a growing problem.

"I think it's a new problem as we get into materials that aren't books," she added. "Perhaps worth more than books in a dollar value."

Police say Smith will be charged with organized fraud and other charges could be pending.