A former maintenance worker at the Cape Girardeau Public Library has been charged in connection with recent break-ins and thefts at the building.

Corey Overbey, 22, of Scott City was arrested Thursday, said Cpl. Adam Glueck, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

On Friday, Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle's office charged Overbey with one count of second-degree burglary and two counts of stealing.

Bond was set at $5,000.

The library has been a victim of break-ins over the past month, with the most recent Monday evening. About $2,700 in cash collected for library fines and food such as chicken salad and string cheese belonging to employees were stolen.

Glueck said surveillance video taken inside the library was helpful in identifying the suspect.

Swingle said no other employees are suspected of any wrongdoing.

"You can rest assured that the nice person waiting on you behind the counter inside the library is not connected to the case," Swingle said.

Since the burglaries the library has purchased a safe to prevent future thefts. Library director Betty Martin was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

"It is wonderful to hear that the police and library staff were able to use the new library's security measures to quickly identify and arrest a suspect," said library board member Eric Bohl. "We have seen a huge increase in circulation with the opening of the new building, so fine collections have been increasing also.

"In the wake of these events, the board has been working with police to strengthen security measures even further than the original design," Bohl said. "I am confident that those increased security measures and this arrest will put the public's mind at ease regarding the safeguarding of its

funds."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent address:

711 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO