Caught on CCTV: Man Seen Stealing Cheap Books at Self-Service Secondhand Bookstore!

A man was caught stealing books from a self-service secondhand bookstore in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur, prompting a public outcry over the audacious act.

Rachel Ang, the owner of Books n Bobs, took to Facebook to express her disappointment and frustration at the thief's actions. She lamented the brazen theft of inexpensive, second hand books from her modest business, emphasising the distressing nature of such behaviour.

Photo via Facebook (Books n Bobs)

"This is a completely deplorable act, and, above all, it's deeply disappointing," Ang remarked. "Our books are priced starting from RM1, with the majority falling within the range of RM7 to RM25. Why would someone choose to steal from a small local business like ours?"

Ang acknowledged the inherent risks of operating a self-service store but was taken aback by the calculated and premeditated nature of the "heist" targeting secondhand books. The incident occurred around noon on Saturday, February 17, and was captured on the store's CCTV cameras, as well as witnessed by a customer present at the time.

The perpetrator, identified as a man wearing a cap and a face mask, entered the store minutes after Ang's staff had left for lunch. Suspicions arose that the thief was familiar with the layout of the store, as he swiftly targeted specific sections to pilfer books of his choosing.

In a shocking twist, the thief also indulged in a cup of coffee without paying at the checkout counter before nonchalantly exiting the premises.

Ang estimated the value of the stolen books to be approximately RM150 to RM200. However, she emphasised that the emotional toll of the incident far outweighed the monetary loss.

"I'm deeply disheartened by the ugliness of humanity that this incident has exposed," Ang lamented.

The community rallied behind Ang, with netizens and regular patrons expressing empathy and solidarity. Some even offered to cover the cost of the stolen books, demonstrating a heartening display of support in the face of adversity.