By U.S. Army Spc. Leah R. Burton 28th Public Affairs Detachment
LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, BALAD, Iraq, March 2, 2005 — Over the past month, the military police here have responded to 54 larcenies, including burglaries, theft of government and private property, postal theft and shoplifting.
“Larceny is probably the majority of our cases,” said U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Krupka, 939th Military Police Detachment (Law and Order).
Two of the most recent incidents involved third country nationals who were caught with unauthorized items from alcohol to digital cameras to military issued equipment. “We got a tip that the [Army and Air Force Exchange Service] employees had alcohol in their possession, so we went over there and found all kinds of stuff,” said Investigator Shane Stephens, 939th MP Detachment.
The suspects were adamant that soldiers gave them the items, but much of it had clearly been stolen, Stephens said. One suspect was in possession of 11 brand new military issue knives worth $144 each. Others had expensive digital cameras, SAPI (body armor) plates, rucksacks, load bearing equipment and desert camouflage uniforms.
In the second incident, two men were caught by Army and Air Force Exchange Service loss prevention attempting to steal two packages of underwear. When they were questioned, loss prevention personnel found an additional four packages, said Capt. Gary Blagburn, 939th MP Detachment operations officer.
“We take an aggressive approach to stopping shoplifting by using in-store exchange detective teams, electronic surveillance systems, electronic article surveillance and other methods,” said Amanda R. Bittle, exchange service area loss prevention manager. “It is a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the value of the stolen merchandise.”
“It involves more than just the physical act of concealing or taking possession of goods or merchandise, altering a price tag or other price marking, or transferring the goods from one container to another. It also involves the intent to convert the goods or merchandise to the shoplifter’s own or another’s use without paying the full purchase price.”
In both cases, the individuals were fired by their companies and flown out of theater.
“Usually, when they’re caught, they’re back home in one to two days,” Blagburn said.
Other incidents include a unit that had some government property stolen. They posted up signs that they needed the items returned and provided an amnesty box. The items were recovered.
Much of the theft of personal and government property is borne of sheer soldier negligence, troops failing to secure their belongings. To date, the MPs have recovered items such as M-16s, AT4s, M-9s, grenades and vehicles.
Service members go to public areas like the fitness center, leave their bags unattended and return to find them missing. Or they leave their trailer going to the latrine, leaving their door unlocked and come back to find their television missing. “Just keep your stuff secured. Know your roommate, and know who’s been in your room,” Blagburn said.
While the civilian employees are liable to lose their livelihood as a result of a larceny charge, service members have much more at stake.
Several articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice could be violated including:
• Article 108, sale, loss, damage destruction or wrongful disposition of military property
• Article 121, larceny and wrongful appropriation
• Article 122, robbery
• Article 129, burglary
• Article 134, knowingly receiving, buying or concealing stolen property, with the maximum punishments of dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for anywhere from two to 15 years.
Blagburn said individuals are encouraged to think about the consequences before setting their sights on someone else’s property.
Mr. B.J. Penn, was sworn in yesterday as the assistant secretary of the Navy for installations and environment by Secretary of the Navy Gordon England. In this position, Penn is responsible for formulating policy and procedures for the effective management of Navy and Marine Corps real property, housing, and other facilities; environmental protection ashore and afloat; occupational health for both military and civilian personnel; and timely completion of closures and realignments installations under base closure laws.
Prior to his appointment, Penn served as the Defense Department’s director, industrial base assessments, where he was responsible for the overall health of the U.S. defense industrial base. A retired Navy officer, Penn’s assignments included deputy director of the Navy Office of Technology Transfer & Security Assistance, command of Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., and command of Electronic Attack Squadron Thirty Three (VAQ-33). Penn holds a bachelor’s of science degree from Purdue University and a master’s of science degree from George Washington University. He received certificates in aerospace safety from the University of Southern California and in national security for senior officials from the Kennedy School, Harvard University.