Gilbert Resident Shocked as Thief Snatches Kids’ Books from ‘Sharing Library’

Dozens of books from Renee Lamb’s sharing library were stolen Tuesday night, dealing a blow to her efforts to rejuvenate her neighborhood’s love for reading.

GILBERT, Ariz. — Sharing libraries are a common sight in many neighborhoods, encouraging people to borrow books and leave some of their own in return.

“Sharing the love of reading because reading is kind of a lost art these days,” Gilbert homeowner Renee Lamb said about her decision to place a sharing library in her front yard.

However, one individual chose to ignore this community spirit on Tuesday evening. Caught on home security cameras, a man in a white sedan parked in front of Lamb’s house and emptied the contents of her sharing library.

The thief inspected the books, opened his trunk, and took off with dozens of children’s books, making several trips to ensure he got them all.

“I had probably 20 to 30 books in there. It was filled from side to side,” Lamb explained. “He walks to his trunk, pops it open, starts just emptying everything out. He does take a couple of trips in there and then he just takes off.”

Lamb shared the video footage on a Gilbert community Facebook page, where the reaction was overwhelmingly supportive. Many people have offered to help replenish her sharing library with new books.

She hopes the thief realizes the true purpose of the sharing library and returns the stolen books.

“This isn’t for anything other than just sharing the love of reading with your community and it’s sad we can’t have this in more neighborhoods because of acts like this,” Lamb lamented.

**Arizonanews.org**