Make a note of this for future reference: cops can be sent to collect overdue library books. Police Sergeant Dan Dowd was sent to a house to retrieve a 5 year old girl’s two overdue library books. The Massachusetts mom said police went too far, “She's 5, she didn't understand. I closed my door, I looked at my daughter and she started crying." said Shannon Benoit of her daughter, Hailey.

Naturally, Hailey thought that the cop had come to arrest her. 'Is that policeman going to arrest me?'" Benoit quoted her daughter. "I was scared," added Hailey.

Sgt. Dowd says he was really not looking to pay a visit to collect the long overdue books, even though it’s a misdemeanor, "Nobody wanted to, on this end to get involved in it," he told CBS Boston. "But the library contacted us, and the chief delegated, and apparently I was one of the low men on the totem pole."

The popular How To Tie My Shoes and Eloise's Birthday, had been sitting on Hailey's bookshelf since April. The spokeswoman for the Charlton Public Library said that it wasn't just Hailey's overdue books that prompted the police intervention. She also noted $100 worth of late fees for overdue audio books checked out by Hailey's father, Tony Benoit.

"I asked the chief... 'When does something borrowed become stolen?" said Cheryl Hansen. "'The chief said, 'When it's overdue!"" Hansen also thought sending a cop would actually be better than sending a summons – since several calls and warning letter had already been sent.

According to Police Chief James A. Pervier his officers have been asked by library personnel to make similar visits to at least 13 other Charlton households over library late fees resulting in prompt book returns.

"We've gotten quite a bit back," said Hansen. "Even some things that weren't overdue!"

A little responsibility on the parents’ part would surely have saved little Hailey the scare of being arrested at such a young age! Now, please make sure to return any overdue books that you or your children have borrowed.

Though, what do you think: should taxpayers’ money be spent in cops going around collecting library books?

(Photos: DailyMail)