Thursday, April 12, 2012

MM #1


Angela Hensley   4/12/12

To Catch a Thief

What does it take to catch a thief? The answer to the question – security cameras. A series of events that brought about the arrest of book thief Robert Quigley, Jr. showed small town Oxford, Mississippi that even they were not safe from serial shoplifters.

Last year the employees of local establishment Square Books set a plan into motion that brought a man to justice. Over the period of several months store owner Richard Howorth and a few trusted employees had a serious matter brought to their attention. A section of collectible books in Off Square Books had been noticeably growing smaller. After checking the inventory, the group realized that they had a book thief on their hands.

Howorth immediately became suspicious of everyone that walked into his establishments on the square, certain that the thief was right under his nose. “I’ve had businesses located on the square since 1979 and the idea of someone stealing from me was insulting,” stated Howorth.

Due to a series of events that Howorth set into motion, perhaps from reading too many detective novels, the thief was caught. And earlier this month was sentenced to five years of probation. Even though the thief had been caught and sentenced, the Square Books crew was still uneasy. After much consideration, they decided on security cameras.

At first cameras were going to be put up in each of the three stores, but Howorth decided it would probably be best to go ahead and install them in Off Square Books and see how it worked out.  As of right now there are five cameras in Off Square Books. Some of them are visible and some are not. There is a computer screen behind the cash register facing customers so that they know they are being recorded.

“I believe that installing the cameras was a good idea. It shows the customers that while they are more than welcome to make themselves at home in our store, stealing is not tolerated. We would be more than happy to put the book on hold for you,” stated Allen Austin, Off Square Books employee.

Learn more about Square Books and its history at http://www.squarebooks.com/

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