'The Little Free Library' Stolen From South End Neighborhood

BOSTON (CBS) - On a quiet South End street, a crime was committed.

A pile of books sat on a set of steps on Milford Street, books without a home.

It's all the result of a heartless crime a few days ago.

That's when someone stole what neighborhood people called "The Little Free Library."

For some reason, they left the books behind.

It was a wooden structure, kind of a miniature house, designed to shelter books.

Residents could borrow and return them whenever they liked, and it was also a place where donated books could be left.

Little Library caretaker Lydia Walshin says the theft makes her determined to carry on.

"Nobody in this community wants to let a thief keep us from reading and sharing books," she told WBZ-TV.

The little book shelter had become a fixture in the neighborhood and the locals say they already miss it.

A temporary crate of books was left on the stairs and local carpenters were ready to step up and make a replacement, but the community got some good news late Wednesday night, after this story aired on WBZ-TV.

Walshin said the police found the library dumped in the trash not far away. She said someone saw the WBZ-TV report and recognized the library.

Some repairs need to be made, but the library should be back on the steps Thursday.