Little Free Libraries cleared out in metro Denver communities

On the sidewalk outside Kate Schneider’s Wheat Ridge home, dozens of books are neatly lined up inside a small wooden box.

Schneider takes great care to make sure her little free library has something for everyone, from thrillers to children’s books.

“I really like to keep it fresh with some good stuff,” said Schneider. “I’m a little selective about what goes in here.”

But on May 15, she noticed her library was completely empty.

“I was a little shocked,” she said. “There was absolutely nothing in there, and I had just restocked it.”

She estimates someone took between 40 and 50 books, so she posted a warning about it on social media.

Other neighbors quickly replied saying the same exact thing had happened to them.

“I guess I’m a little naïve, I guess I had no idea this was something people did,” she said. “I’m not sure if whoever’s doing this is coming from a place of desperation, or if they’re really having a lot of success with stealing and re-selling books.”

Lacy Allaire shared a video with 9NEWS of someone apparently clearing out her little free library in Westminster last week.