I WAS NOWHERE NEAR SEATTLE!! YOU CAN'T PIN THAT ONE ON ME!!!

When I was looking for a part time job back in high school, I applied at a couple bookstores. Mostly small store chains, but a few independents. The really big bookstores like Borders and Barnes and Nobles weren't in my area yet. A few of the managers talked to me about shoplifters and said the most commonly stolen books by pro shoplifters as opposed to kids, were actually children's books. The supposed reason was that they resold them at flea markets.

This was also in the suburbs where you are probably less likely to be able to sell a stolen copy of Bukowski and most the book stores didn't carry graphic novels or comics yet. If they did they typically kept right next to the register. I doubt I would have ever picked any of those authors as the most stolen books. I could see it when they were in their heydey, and I could see it people who were just getting into their full on rebellion stage swiping them to read, but wouldn't think they'd be stolen for resale that much. /shrug.

I poked around the internets some, and apparently in some cities the Bible is high up on the list. At libraries it is apparently mostly occult themed or exam prep books that are never returned or stolen, as well as practical guides, like car repair.

i was in a bookstore on sunday here in SF (by Fillmore @ Sacramento) and noticed they had a sign on the shelf that said: "For Bukowski, as us at the register." i assumed it was because he's high on this hit list.