Most were stolen: more than 101 army weapons disappeared

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It’s a recurring problem for the military: Dozens of assault rifles and pistols are reported missing every year. Also in 2023, 101 army weapons were lost. Slightly more than last year, when 96 weapons were lost.

In 88 cases it was the assault rifle 90, in 13 cases the pistol 75.

95 weapons were lost due to theft. In the other cases the reason is unknown. Since 2009, the army has registered 1,233 army weapons as missing.

Arms losses are virtually unchanged compared to 2022 and are in line with the fluctuations of previous years, as the statistics show. However, in 2020 the number was significantly lower with only 70 weapons missing. The reason for this could have been the corona pandemic, when many people were at home – for example in their home offices – and thus deterred potential thieves.

32 weapons recovered

Last year, 32 weapons registered as missing were found: 24 assault rifles and eight handguns. Slightly more than the year before.

“Most of the weapons were found in the living quarters of the people who reported the damage – or with their next tenants,” the army wrote. “The police confiscated some of the weapons during the investigation.”

Most of the weapons found are returned by the cantonal police force to the army’s logistics base, as they are usually surrendered to the police by civilians or found during police operations.

‘Perpetrators’ are confronted with consequences

The military certainly does not take the problem lightly and launched a prevention campaign in 2017. And depending on the case, the ‘perpetrators’ are confronted with the consequences. In less serious cases you can get away with disciplinary punishment from the troops. In many cases there is a bus. However, if the crime is serious, it carries a prison sentence of up to three years.

If the weapon is stolen, you can only get away with impunity if the weapon is stored according to the rules.

The army sensitizes army members, among other things, about the handling of weapons with an accompanying entry in the service book to reduce the number of lost weapons. And: “In addition, the troop commanders address the issue of avoiding weapon losses during recruitment schools and refresher courses.”

As an army spokesperson previously emphasized: “The Swiss army is doing everything it can to prevent weapon losses, because every missing weapon is one too many.”

Source:Blick