We all have read about the epidemic worldwide with metal theft. Thieves steal everything from pipes to siding to railroad ties and everything in between. Some of these thefts are for large items with the value netted from the sale of scrap metal resulting in mere peanuts.

The story of the marine who stole “scrap” metal involved a lot more than peanuts.

Stolen Helicopter Landing Pads

Is he a genius or an opportunity? Most likely a greedy opportunist that in another era might be charged with treason against his country!

Christopher Cook used the cover of the closing of the Willow Grove Naval Air Station for the theft of military equipment. The 29-year-old Cook is a former Marine sergeant now living in Michigan. He was discharged for his conduct, admitting he stole 60,000 pounds of aluminum helicopter landing pads from August 2010 through February 2011 from Willow Grove where he unit was assigned. This as reported in cbslocal.com.

How dishonest was the scrap dealer who accepted these?

Cook to eight months in a supervised treatment facility, five years of probation, and ordered him to pay restitution in excess of $377,000.

He admitted that he had disgraced himself, his country and the US Marine Corps by his actions and did not fight the penalty.

A psychiatrist testified saying Cook suffers from Post-traumatic-Stress-disorder and traumatic brain injury from four tours of duty in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still that was no excuse.

Perhaps a theft class should be mandatory for all members of the US armed forces. What do you think?