-------- Original Message -------- Subject: FW: James Brubaker pleads guilty to map thefts Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 14:41:44 -0600 From: Kathryn Lage <[log in to unmask]> Organization: University of Colorado To: <[log in to unmask]> Does anyone know the library in Colorado that was a victim of Brubaker's thefts? We hadn't heard about any thefts in CO... -Katie Katie Lage Map Librarian Jerry Crail Johnson Earth Sciences & Map Library University Libraries University of Colorado at Boulder 184 UCB Boulder, CO 80309 ph. 303-735-4917 fax 303-735-4879 http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/map/ -----Original Message----- From: Tony Campbell [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:20 AM To: *MapHist Subject: [MapHist] James Brubaker pleads guilty to map thefts There has been much publicity about the case of the serial map thief James Brubaker, who was brought to book solely because of the dedicated efforts of Rob Lopestri of Western Washington University. He has now pleaded guilty, and I am grateful to Heather Kinsinger for drawing my attention to today's article in the Great Falls Tribune: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/NEWS01/ 806240323/1002/news01 {be sure to copy the whole URL} Some of this account is a repeat of earlier ones but I think there is considerably more detail. For example, that he hit at least 16 of the US states (and strayed across into Canada) and took at least 832 books, from at least 109 institutions. 'Hundreds of maps, lithographs, and serial plates were found in envelopes ready for sale on eBay. Possibly tens of thousands of maps, lithographs and plates were found in plastic containers, according to court documents.' 'Based upon known values, the calculated total theft loss amount is approximately $220,000. Damage to existing volumes where certain pages were removed by a razor or similar device has not yet been determined. 'Brubaker faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release, Mercer said. He is currently detained.' It does not say how long Brubaker had been thieving. One hopes that a large number of libraries - not just those known to have been affected this time - will be reviewing their security and taking the necessary effective action. The article also provides details of the tools he used and the techniques he employed to remove stamps, etc, which I am not repeating here. Tony Campbell. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ If you are likely to want to contact me please alter your address book to show this PERMANENT email address: [log in to unmask] NB. The current version will change *soon*, without further announcement ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬