Book Cellar’s computer stolen; store rebounds from theft
LAKE WORTH — Katie Breaux, a 39-year-old barista at Book Cellar, still can’t believe what happened at the Lake Avenue store on June 10.
A man, probably in his late 30s, approached Breaux, asking her questions about rehab centers in the area.
He bummed a smoke off her. Then he asked for a cup of water and used the bathroom.
Breaux started helping another customer and after the man came out of the restroom he unplugged the store computer and took it.
“I was surprised and pissed,” said Breaux. “He looked normal.” The story didn’t end there. A few days after the theft, Breaux saw the same man walking down a nearby street. So she followed him and called the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office.
“They had a little talk with him,” Breaux said. “He wasn’t arrested then because he didn’t have the laptop, but they let him know we knew who he was and now there was a face with the name.”
The man was arrested shortly thereafter, with Breaux saying she heard the man had crack on him. But no laptop.
The store has been rearranged since the theft. Before the register was in the center of the books. Now it’s closer to the cafe so Breaux can see it from the counter.
“And I can also see my counterpart,” she said. “Before I had to lean over.”
Tami Ayraud, Book Cellar’s co-owner, said she had to re-inventory the entire store and enter the information into the computer again.
The alleged thief has been around Lake Worth, Ayraud said.
Ayraud sent an email to customers Monday morning asking them to contact the store if they placed a special order prior to June 10.
“The books are here that they ordered, but we don’t know who they belong to because we don’t have the contact information for us to call the customers,” she said. “I just feel really terrible that we’re trying to provide this service for people and now they’re not going to get their books in the time we told them they would.”
She added the whole situation stinks.
“We’ve changed everything and taken extra precautions for safety and security,” she said. “You think you’re safe and then somebody ruins it for you.”
Luckily, no one was hurt, Breaux added.
“So many worse things could have happened,” she said. “We still plan to be awesome and nice to people.”
Breaux said she was upset for several days. But she has a regular customer who calmly said the most beautiful thing to her.
“The man may have stolen your laptop, but don’t let him steal your faith in mankind,” she said he told her. “That was the only thing that made me feel better.”