Spencer Reinhard has been admitted to Transylvania University to study art. The freshman is having dreams like any other college student. Reinhard is very hardworking and visits the library regularly. In one of the visits, he gets a chance to tour the library’s rare book collection. The librarian controlling access to the rare book collection is Betty Jean Gooch. Several priceless books are stacked in a glass-walled room. Reinhard is thrilled by John James Audubon’s book, Bird of America. The book is very expensive and Reinhard believes the fortune has presented itself.
Carrying out heists is very difficult, particularly when one has not attempted to steal in his entire life. Reinhard decides to seek help from Warren Lipka, who is on the verge of being suspended from the university. Warren accepts the request and decides to go to Amsterdam to look for buyers. During this time, Reinhard is left sketching a map on how they will enter and get away with the books. Once Warren returns from Amsterdam, they resolve to involve Chas Allen and Eric Borsuk.
The college mates’ first day of heist turns out negatively due to the several librarians present. However, the following day, they execute their heist, but some mistakes make them get traced. Eventually, they are arrested and imprisoned. Crimes rarely pay and students must work hard to achieve success in the right manner. The greed for money made the students featured in the film waste away their fourteen years in jail.
