BOSTON -- A bookstore helped get stolen books back for a Harvard student after the box in which they were delivered was stolen.

Store Gets Stolen Books Back For Student

NewsCenter 5's Lynn Jolicoeur reported that a thief stole the Amazon.com box that contained the two books on ancient Peruvian civilizations from a Harvard grad student's apartment building lobby Monday.

"They're anthropology books -- with limited academic appeal," the student said.

The student, who doesn't want to use his name, reported the theft -- not just to police.

"I gave the titles to a number of bookstores in the area," he said.

Hours later, a man went to the Harvard bookstore on Wednesday and tried to sell the books.

"We figured he just really wanted to get rid of them quick, so we figured we'd offer him a lowball price, because we told the man if we saw his books, we'd try to get them back," said Harvard Bookstore manager Mark Lamphier.

"They basically paid the ransom on the books and turned them back over to me. So, it was very kind of them," the student said.

As with all used books, the bookstore took information from the seller's driver's license. But this time, the promptly gave it to police.

"We can't directly say, 'Yes, we know these books are stolen,' even though we strongly suspect and all circumstances tell us that's what's going on," Lamphier said.

The student said he would buy his books from the store in the future.

"Internet sales are what's driving independent book stores out of business, but here the local independent bookstore saved the day in the end," Lamphier said.

Cambridge police said it will take time to investigate the case. They have arrested people for stealing packages from steps and lobbies in the past.