Here's an irony that would make for an awkward confession booth moment: the Bible, a book whose commandments explicitly prohibit stealing, is among the most frequently shoplifted items in bookstores.

While no comprehensive database tracks stolen books across retail chains (most big bookstores decline to share their theft statistics), anecdotal evidence from independent bookstores paints a consistent picture. BookPeople in Austin, Texas, reported the Bible as their most frequently stolen title. Other booksellers across North America confirm it's consistently "up there" on their loss lists.

The Shoplifting Paradox

The contradiction is almost poetic. Someone walks into a bookstore, spots the Good Book with its teachings about righteousness and morality, and promptly slides it under their jacket. It's the literary equivalent of stealing a "Thou Shalt Not Steal" sign.

Bookstore employees have developed a dark humor about it. One shop owner quipped that thieves apparently believe the Eighth Commandment comes with a self-checkout option.

Why the Bible?

Several theories attempt to explain this phenomenon:

Accessibility and availability - Bibles are everywhere in bookstores, often in multiple translations and price points, creating ample opportunity
Moral justification - Thieves may rationalize that God's word should be free, or that they need spiritual guidance more than the store needs profit
Desperation - Some may genuinely lack money but feel they need religious guidance during difficult times
The resale market - Certain editions, particularly leather-bound or annotated versions, have resale value

Not Just Bibles

The Bible has company in the shoplifting hall of shame. Independent bookstores report other frequently stolen titles include works by Charles Bukowski, Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," and anything by Haruki Murakami. There's apparently a subset of literary thieves with very specific tastes in existential fiction.

In the UK, "The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides topped the shoplifting charts in 2007. Canadian chain Indigo reported Kurt Vonnegut as a perennial theft favorite.

The pattern? Popular, culturally significant books that signal intellectual identity. The Bible fits this profile perfectly—it's both spiritually significant and culturally ubiquitous.

The Cost of Stolen Scripture

Book theft costs retailers an estimated portion of the $47.8 billion lost to shoplifting in 2025. While stores catch shoplifters only about 2% of the time, the cumulative impact on small bookstores can be significant.

Some stores have resorted to keeping expensive Bible editions behind the counter or in locked cases—a strange security measure for a book meant to be spread far and wide.

The next time you're browsing the religion section of a bookstore, remember: those Bibles might be under closer surveillance than you think. Even the Good Book needs a guardian angel these days.

Related Tags