John Charles Gilkey (born 1968)[1] is a prolific serial book and document thief who has stolen approximately US$200,000 worth of rare books and manuscripts.[2] Gilkey used Modern Library's List of 100 Best Novels[3] as a guide to what items he would steal.[4] Unlike most book thieves who steal for a profit, his motives for the thefts were personal: he saw an expansive library as a sign of being upper-class.[5]
Gilkey used bad checks and stolen credit card numbers gained through his employment at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco.[6] He did not consider that he stole books; instead he would talk about "doing business" with the dealers from whom he stole items. Allison Hoover Bartlett, who wrote The Man Who Loved Books Too Much chronicling Gilkey's thefts and methods, stated that he felt he deserved the books. She also noted that Gilkey would tell her the details of a theft after the statute of limitations on that crime had expired.[7] Since Gilkey kept these books for his personal collection none of these books ever surfaced again on the market.
^John Woolfolk (February 7, 2003). "Book-theft suspect caught with the goods". San Jose Mercury News. He was a thief who allegedly used a stolen credit card number to buy the original bestseller and reserve a room at the hotel where he planned to pick it up, police say. Now investigators say they have connected the man, John Charles Gilkey, to at least one other similar rare-book theft in the Bay Area and are looking into whether he is linked to others over the last two years worth $50,000... Gilkey, who was on probation out of Los Angeles for writing bad checks, told police he was unemployed and living on the streets of San Francisco. So officers were surprised when he promptly posted $15,000 bail.
^Redfearn, Dixie (2007-05-19). . The Union. Archived from the original on 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
^Lieberman, Michael (December 15, 2010). "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is back on the loose". Book Patrol. Seattle Pi. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
Bartlett, Allison Hoover (2009), The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession, New York: Riverhead, p. 101, ISBN978-1-59448-891-7
External linksedit
Ken Sanders article about Gilkey
Author's website for The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
April 12, 2024
john, charles, gilkey, born, 1968, prolific, serial, book, document, thief, stolen, approximately, worth, rare, books, manuscripts, gilkey, used, modern, library, list, best, novels, guide, what, items, would, steal, unlike, most, book, thieves, steal, profit,. John Charles Gilkey born 1968 1 is a prolific serial book and document thief who has stolen approximately US 200 000 worth of rare books and manuscripts 2 Gilkey used Modern Library s List of 100 Best Novels 3 as a guide to what items he would steal 4 Unlike most book thieves who steal for a profit his motives for the thefts were personal he saw an expansive library as a sign of being upper class 5 John Charles GilkeyBorn1968 age 55 56 Modesto California United StatesNationalityAmericanCriminal chargeBook and document theft check fraudDetailsSpan of crimes1997 Gilkey used bad checks and stolen credit card numbers gained through his employment at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco 6 He did not consider that he stole books instead he would talk about doing business with the dealers from whom he stole items Allison Hoover Bartlett who wrote The Man Who Loved Books Too Much chronicling Gilkey s thefts and methods stated that he felt he deserved the books She also noted that Gilkey would tell her the details of a theft after the statute of limitations on that crime had expired 7 Since Gilkey kept these books for his personal collection none of these books ever surfaced again on the market After a sting operation in 2003 orchestrated by Ken Sanders a rare book dealer in Salt Lake City 8 9 Gilkey served 18 months in San Quentin beginning the following year 6 He was arrested again on December 15 2010 in San Francisco for stealing two antique maps 10 Gilkey was the subject of an episode of the podcast Criminal 11 References edit Ciuraru Carmela November 5 2009 The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett LA Times Retrieved June 6 2017 Ann Mary 2010 10 03 Thief stole rare books for love says author Seattle Times Retrieved 2012 01 14 Modern Library s List of 100 Best Novels Berkes Howard January 2010 Literary Larceny A Book Thief Meets His Match NPR Bartlett 2009 p 101 a b Berkes Howard January 2010 Literary Larceny A Book Thief Meets His Match All Things Considered NPR org Retrieved 10 April 2011 Bartlett 2009 p 243 John Woolfolk February 7 2003 Book theft suspect caught with the goods San Jose Mercury News He was a thief who allegedly used a stolen credit card number to buy the original bestseller and reserve a room at the hotel where he planned to pick it up police say Now investigators say they have connected the man John Charles Gilkey to at least one other similar rare book theft in the Bay Area and are looking into whether he is linked to others over the last two years worth 50 000 Gilkey who was on probation out of Los Angeles for writing bad checks told police he was unemployed and living on the streets of San Francisco So officers were surprised when he promptly posted 15 000 bail Redfearn Dixie 2007 05 19 Meet Book Cop at Gold Rush fair The Union Archived from the original on 2011 09 14 Retrieved 2012 01 14 Lieberman Michael December 15 2010 The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is back on the loose Book Patrol Seattle Pi Retrieved 10 April 2011 Ex libris Criminal Episode 22 26 June 2015 Sources editBartlett Allison Hoover 2009 The Man Who Loved Books Too Much The True Story of a Thief a Detective and a World of Literary Obsession New York Riverhead p 101 ISBN 978 1 59448 891 7External links editKen Sanders article about Gilkey Author s website for The Man Who Loved Books Too Much Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Charles Gilkey amp oldid 1211647749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
