UK COMPUTER THEFT FROM LIBRARY UPDATE INFORMATIONicSouthlondon - Library raid - 'Alarm was turned off'http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/tm_obje

Library raid - 'Alarm ws turned off'

Streatham Post


A COUNCIL has refused to confirm whether burglar alarms were on when thousands of pounds worth of computers were stolen from a library.

Lambeth council said it "cannot confirm or deny whether alarms were working" when burglars plundered 22 computers worth a total of £10,000 from the Tate Library in Streatham.
But The Post has learnt from a source that alarms were not active when raiders struck at the internet suite of the Streatham High Road library.

The council has already replaced the stolen equipment - using £10,000 of council tax payers' cash.

Detectives from Streatham CID are investigating the break-in which happened some time between the evening of Friday, January 14 and the following morning.

Officers have said the raiders gained access to the building through a skylight.

They have appealed for witnesses and information regarding the break-in.

A council spokeswoman said Streatham library staff had been "disgusted" by the burglary.

She added: "It is awful that these opportunists have stolen something that is such a valuable community asset.

"They took every computer from the internet suite which has caused the library problems.

"We have had to spend £10,000 on replacing the computers and have had to do it straight away because they are always in demand.

"We don't believe the users should suffer because of this theft.

"We cannot confirm or deny whether alarms were working at the time of the break-in."

The library has building and contents insurance.

The spokeswoman said the council had stepped up security since the raid and introduced a full-time security guard.

If you have any information on the break-in which could help the police call the Streatham priority crime unit on 020 8649 2973 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.