ST. PAUL (AP) — Community book cubbies in families' yards have been repeatedly burglarized in recent months all across the Twin Cities.

Little Free Libraries have been mysteriously cleaned out multiple times, leaving the community out of books. Little Free Libraries is a nonprofit that promotes the idea for small mailbox-like structures in front of people's yards that allow trading of personal books for free to encourage reading.

There is speculation that the books are being stolen so they can be sold at local bookstores. The nonprofit has been stamping the books to locate their whereabouts easier, should a Little Free Library be emptied.

Former newspaper columnist Nick Coleman says the recurring thefts are a longstanding problem in St. Paul.

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