National Guard member charged will stealing another soldier's uniform

A Cedar Rapids National Guard member is charged with stealing the uniform of a fellow soldier and trying to sell it at a Marion surplus store.

Marion police arrested Andrew T. Dittmar Friday after he tried to sell the items, which included a helmet and other gear, at Uncle Stan's Military Surplus, 900 Seventh Ave., police Lt. Steve Etzel said.

An Uncle Stan's employee called police. Etzel said National Guard officials distributed a list of the stolen gear after its owner reported it stolen Oct. 13 from her locker at the Iowa National Guard Armory, 10400 18th St. SW.

“He's in the same unit,” Etzel said of Dittmar. “It sounds like there was an unsecured locker and he took it from the locker.”

Dittmar, of 2318 16th St. NW, is charged with second-degree theft. He was released from jail after a court appearance.

Keith Post, owner of Uncle Stan's, said it wasn't difficult to match the gear Dittmar tried to sell to the armory theft.

“This stuff was all new,” Post said. “Mostly when we get stuff, it's older.”

Post said he occasionally buys used military equipment from veterans or collectors, but most of his stock comes from wholesalers located near military bases.

“They buy a ton of stuff, mark it up a bit, and sell it to me,” he said.