[CPProt.net] New Zealand: Book theft 'mule' gets two years jail

[MSN CPPnet]

Book theft 'mule' gets two years jail 
15 July 2005  
By DEAN CALCOTT

A man who was paid to plunder rare books from libraries throughout the
country has been jailed for more than two years. 


In the Christchurch District Court yesterday, Judge Phil Moran said he
accepted that Norman William Holloway, 51, acted under instructions from
co-offender Lee Simpson, jailed for three years for his part in the thefts,
and would get a lesser sentence. 

Holloway, a labourer, was jailed for two years and three months after
admitting two counts of conspiring to burgle and 40 of burglary. 

The judge said university and public libraries throughout New Zealand were
targeted, the offending in Holloway's case running between 1998 and 2004. 

Typically, Simpson would visit libraries first, removing security markings
and repositioning books for Holloway to take later. 

Holloway would then be paid by Simpson. 

His role had been described as that of the "mule", or carrier, for Simpson. 

AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter the thefts, library markings were "washed"
by bleaching, sandpapering or rubbing, in preparation for sale over the
internet or to second-hand book dealers. 

It was difficult to put a monetary value on the stolen books, but it had
been estimated at $1 million. 

Aggravating the case was that libraries were "soft targets". They operated
largely on trust, the pair taking advantage of their accessibility, the
judge said. 

Many books - part of New Zealand's historic heritage - were not recovered. 

Also, the impact on libraries was severe. They had to heighten security and
reduce public access to historic collections, the judge said. 

Lawyer Tony Greig said Holloway was very much led by the far more knowing
Simpson. 

A probation report described Holloway as anxious and vulnerable. 

Prosecutor Craig Ruane said that until the extensive thefts came to light,
libraries operated very much on trust. 

The historic collections were relatively accessible and the group took
advantage of the trust implicit in the arrangement.