Two Accused Of Library Video Theft

A brother and sister were jailed on charges they checked out more than 200 videos from the library and replaced the footage with blank tape before returning the cassettes.

The blank cassettes were returned to libraries in Euclid and Cleveland and put back on the shelves to be checked out. A customer complaint about a tape led to a library investigation.

Cheryl Hill, 37, and Thomas Hill, 39, were arrested Monday and charged with criminal simulation and grand theft. Police said they found 233 videos in a search of their home, including “Cinderella,” “Pollyanna” and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”

“They kept a lot for their own personal collection, but sold some of the tapes, too,” Sgt. Robert Carney said.

The magnetic tape was switched skillfully enough to fool the libraries. The Hills were identified after the library narrowed its list of frequent renters.