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Defense Inventory: Control and Security Weaknesses Create Opportunities for Theft

NSIAD-92-60 Published: Mar 17, 1992. Publicly Released: Mar 17, 1992.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined: (1) the Department of Defense (DOD) inventory's vulnerability to theft; and (2) DOD implementation of physical inventory controls, in-transit controls to deter and detect theft, and physical security measures designed to safeguard assets and detect theft.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Congress should consider continuing the requirement for an annual report until physical inventory, in-transit control, and physical security problems are improved.
Closed – Implemented
DOD does not believe it has physical control in-transit or physical security problems. It does not want to continue its annual report to Congress on security and control of supplies.
To increase the report's usefulness in assessing the risk of supply system assets to fraud and abuse, Congress should consider requiring that the report include: (1) a summary description of the circumstances surrounding major theft cases, for example, cases involving losses greater than $1 million or sensitive and classified items; and (2) the value of and an analysis of in-transit losses.
Closed – Implemented
DOD does not believe it has physical control in-transit or physical security problems. It does not want to continue its annual report to Congress on security and control of supplies.

Full Report

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Topics

Facility securityFederal property managementInternal controlsInventory control systemsLarcenyMilitary inventoriesMilitary materielMilitary offensesProperty and supply managementReporting requirements