Library cards and faux copies - US man sentenced in elaborate theft of 17th Century Chinese literature

July 9, 2026

A 39-year-old California man, Jeffrey Ying, was sentenced to time served (approximately one month) and one year of home confinement after pleading guilty to stealing a 17th-century Chinese manuscript from UCLA's library. Prosecutors allege that Ying used multiple fake identities to check out rare Chinese literature from the library's collection, then returned forged copies while keeping the originals, with thefts occurring between December 2024 and July 2025. Authorities discovered his scheme when library staff identified recently returned items as counterfeits, and surveillance footage revealed the same person was using different aliases to access the materials.

Who is affected

Jeffrey Ying (the convicted thief)
UCLA Library and its rare books collection
The public who previously had access to rare materials through the library system
Users of the library's lending services for ancient Chinese manuscripts

What action is being taken

Jeffrey Ying is serving one year of home confinement
Jeffrey Ying is under three years of supervised release
Restitution determination is ongoing

Why it matters

This case highlights significant vulnerabilities in library security systems for rare and valuable materials, particularly UCLA's previous policy that allowed public library card applications without government-issued identification verification. The theft of irreplaceable historical documents dating back centuries represents a loss of cultural heritage, with approximately $216,000 worth of ancient Chinese manuscripts stolen. The case demonstrates how sophisticated forgery techniques can be used to exploit institutional trust in lending systems designed to provide public access to rare materials.

What's next

Restitution amount is yet to be determined.

Read full article from source: BBC