B-193866, MARCH 14, 1979

B-193866, MARCH 14, 1979

PRECIS - UNAVAILABLE

JAY SOLOMON, GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION:

THIS IS IN REPLY TO YOUR REQUEST THAT RELIEF BE GRANTED TO MS. KATHY SCHENING (MRS. MARY K. BOIVIN), CLASS "A" CASHIER, FROM LIABILITY FOR THE LOSS OF $4,046.70 RESULTING FROM THE THEFT OF HER POCKETBOOK.

THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO THIS OFFICE REVEALS THAT ON JUNE 1, 1977, MS. SCHENING WAS RETURNING FROM THE BANK WITH THE PROCEEDS OF TWO CHECKS TOTALING $5,946.70 WHEN HER PURSE WAS SNATCHED BY AN UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL AS SHE WAS ENTERING AN ELEVATOR IN THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA) REGIONAL OFFICE BUILDING. ANOTHER GSA EMPLOYEE SAW THE INCIDENT AND ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER THE PURSE, AND DURING THE PURSUIT, $1,900 FELL TO THE FLOOR AND WAS RECOVERED, RESULTING IN A NET LOSS OF $4,046.70. THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE GSA FEDERAL PROTECTION SERVICE WERE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY, AND THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE ON THE FOLLOWING DAY. WE ADVISED THAT GSA RECORDS DISCLOSE THAT ALL LEADS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED.

THE RECORD FULLY SUPPORTS YOUR FINDINGS. ON THE BASIS OF THE FACTS PRESENTED, YOU REQUEST THAT MS. SCHENING BE RELIEVED OF LIABILITY FOR THE LOSS INCURRED, AS PROVIDED BY TITLE 3, SECTION 30.2, OF THE GAO POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL. YOU HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE LOSS OCCURRED WHILE MS. SCHENING WAS ACTING IN THE DISCHARGE OF HER OFFICIAL DUTIES AND WITHOUT FAULT OR NEGLIGENCE ON PER PART. ACCORDINGLY, WE CONCUR IN YOUR DETERMINATIONS, AND GRANT RELIEF TO CASHIER KATHY SCHENING, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 31 U.S.C. 82A-1, IN THE AMOUNT OF $,046.70. A CHARGE MAY BE MADE TO APPROPRIATION 47X4542 AS PROPOSED IN YOUR REQUEST. WE SUGGEST THAT GSA TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE, SUCH AS PROVIDING A GUARD OR ESCORT WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS CARRYING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY.