Accused Library Book Thief Charged In West Hartford Last Year: WHPD

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local police Thursday said the Middletown resident charged this week with library book thefts in Wethersfield has already been charged in West Hartford.

Levi Priston, 50, of Middletown, was charged with second-degree larceny back on July 14, 2024, for stealing thousands of dollars in library books from the West Hartford Public Library, police said on Thursday.

He is out on a $15,000 bond and will next appear in Hartford Superior Court on March 11.

The WHPD last July did not disclose the arrest of Preston and information released about his charge came a day after the Wethersfield Police Department announced charges this week for Preston for book thefts in that town's library.

West Hartford police said Preston is also accused of library book thefts in Middletown and Portland, in addition to Wethersfield.

In West Hartford, police said their investigation started in the fall of 2023 when local library personnel reported a large number of library books going missing over several months.

What police discovered was a book re-selling scheme using Amazon marketplaces, with Preston accused of orchestrating the operation.

"The suspect was discovered to have been scanning books with a cell phone to obtain the resale value, and then concealing them prior to exiting the library," wrote the WHPD on Thursday.

"The suspect was then re-selling the stolen books online through an Amazon webstore."

West Hartford police said Preston is believed to have stolen $16,076 worth of library books in West Hartford, in addition to books he is accused of stealing in Wethersfield, Middletown, and Portland.

In investigating the thefts, the WHPD worked with police in those three other towns.

"The West Hartford Police Department would like to thank the Middletown Police Department and the Portland Police Department for their assistance in this investigation," wrote the WHPD Thursday.

Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203 or use the anonymous WHPD Tip Line/email at (860) 570-8969 / whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov.

From Jan. 29: 'Middletown Man Accused Of Stealing Wethersfield Library Books: Police'

From Oct. 2, 2023: 'Book Thieves Target West Hartford Libraries'