Is theft in the Army ok? My unit never punished anyone for stealing other soldiers personal items?

Question

During the summer. I left my room for a couple of hours. My roommate was still sleeping in the room. I locked the door when I left the room. When I returned, my room door was opened, and my laptop was missing. When I confronted my roommate about the situation, he told me that he let a friend of his into the room, and left for work with his friend still in there. I personally blame both of them for this. When taken to the chain-of-command. The chain said something was going to be done, both for six months, the only thing that happened was the friend of my roommate was extended in Korea. Stolen personal items as well as work related equipment happens fair often in korea. For there are many soldiers whom waste most (if not all) of there money paying for prostitutes in Korea. So they sell the stolen goods to the pawn shops.

Answer 1

Go to the JAG officer and demand restitution from the Unit fund since they failed to provide adequate security for your personal possessions! Your CO sounds like a complete moron. Any commander who cannot insure security for his own peoples things certainly can't be expected to complete the missions assigned to him! Typical US Army incompetence! They're all a bunch of thieving bastards that belong in federal prison rather than roaming the world interacting with good people!

Answer 2

Something a bit fishy about your claims,
First, I seriously doubt if any Unit condones theft of either personnel items or military equipment.

There is specific regulations concerning theft in Military Regulations which covers soldiers personnel items and military items.

All items of military equipment carry a serial number and have to be accounted for ultimately the C.O. of the unit is responsible for all military items under his command.

In my unit, a known thief was treated as if he had the plague, people would barley talk to him and at no time would he be left unattended. When anything went missing he was always hauled in by the M.P's and had his locker searched, he could never get off the base on leave or a pass without being searched.

Are you sure you didn't pawn your own laptop and offer the theft story as an excuse??

Answer 3

Theft is still theft. It is illegal. People could go to jail because of theft. Ok do you have insurance? If not I suggest you take out some if possible. You know a corps has a problem if there is rampant theft and total disrespect for another mans personal items. Perhaps you could consider a career switch. I have provided a link below, see what you think. I also think you need to be more firm with the chain of command, its just not good enough, if they do not listen then leave & tell the media, might just save a few others the pain of having your stuff taken and expose the US Army for what it really is.

Answer 4

Of course it's not OK. It's a crime under the UCMJ just as it is under civilian law.

The problem, as it often is in civilian life too, is proof. That your roommate let his friend into the room and then left him alone does NOT prove that the friend stole your stuff. He might have just left the room unlocked when he left, and someone came along later and stole it.

That may be unlikely, but the burden of proof - just like in a civilian court - is "beyond a reasonable doubt", and the facts you posted just don't meet that burden.

The burden of proof in a civil lawsuit, on the other hand, is only "by the preponderance of the evidence" - so you could always try suing the friend for the value of the stolen items in small claims court.

Richard

Answer 5

Launcher Dawg or Duck Hunter for Air Defense Artillerymen ADA

Answer 6

No its not okay and i am sorry to hear about your stolen goods man. Makes you trust the person less especially whne your in the field or hot zone. Thats somethig i'd bring up to the Shirt about.

Answer 7

does if feel morally right?

because if it does, your ethics must be pretty sucky.