Shoplifting spikes at East Coast bases

[unhappycamper]

Shoplifting spikes at East Coast bases
By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jan 2, 2010 9:14:15 EST

Smile, you’re on security cameras.

Despite the field overhead of video surveillance at the exchanges aboard Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Marines are betting the odds they won’t get caught stealing.

The number of active-duty Marines at those installations who were busted for shoplifting in 2009 is up 59 percent from the year prior, prompting Marine Corps Community Services officials to remind its uniformed clientele that paying for a can of chew will be easier on their wallet and their career.

Between December 2008 and December 2009, 111 Marines were caught toting nearly $8,000 worth of unpaid goods out of MCCS-operated retail centers at Lejeune and New River, according to Acie Carver, MCCS security manager at Lejeune. Between ’07 and ’08, 70 Marines were nabbed lifting more than $12,600 worth of stuff, mainly electronics.

The numbers are drastically different at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where only seven active-duty personnel were caught stealing in 2009, according to the base’s military police database. Eight were caught the year before.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/01/marines_shoplifting_010210w/

[glowing]

1. They should pay the troops more.. then perhaps they wouldn't have to steal.

[PavePusher]

2. Quite a bit of it isn't done due to financial hardship

Most Active Duty theft is for thrills or "I spent all my money on non-essentials, but wanted the DVD anyway."

Almost all Dependent theft is for similar reasons.

However, I will not argue that the military should be better paid.

Disclaimer: I'm an AD SNCO (USAF).