diff --git a/Strategic/Hourly Update.cpp b/Strategic/Hourly Update.cpp
index 8ee1886d..a95637b0 100644
--- a/Strategic/Hourly Update.cpp	
+++ b/Strategic/Hourly Update.cpp	
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ void HourlyStealUpdate()
 		pSoldier = MercPtrs[ cnt ];
 
 		// merc must be alive, not travelling and awake. If he is in the currently loaded sector, we may not be in tactical (we would see an item suddenly disappearing) and not in combat
-		if ( pSoldier && !pSoldier->flags.fBetweenSectors && pSoldier->bActive && !pSoldier->flags.fMercAsleep && 
+		if ( pSoldier && !pSoldier->flags.fBetweenSectors && pSoldier->bActive && !pSoldier->flags.fMercAsleep && pSoldier->bAssignment != IN_TRANSIT && pSoldier->bAssignment != ASSIGNMENT_POW &&
 			!( ( ( gWorldSectorX == pSoldier->sSectorX ) && ( gWorldSectorY == pSoldier->sSectorY ) && (gbWorldSectorZ == pSoldier->bSectorZ ) ) && (gTacticalStatus.fEnemyInSector || guiCurrentScreen == GAME_SCREEN ))  )
 		{
 			if ( pSoldier->HasBackgroundFlag( BACKGROUND_SCROUNGING ) )
@@ -672,7 +672,8 @@ void HourlyStealUpdate()
 					{					
 						pOtherSoldier = MercPtrs[ cnt2 ];
 						// note - snitches stop others, but can scrounge themselves (if they have scrounging specifically set in background...)
-						if( pOtherSoldier && !pOtherSoldier->flags.fBetweenSectors && pOtherSoldier->bActive && !pOtherSoldier->flags.fMercAsleep && pSoldier->ubProfile != pOtherSoldier->ubProfile )
+						if( pOtherSoldier && !pOtherSoldier->flags.fBetweenSectors && pOtherSoldier->bAssignment != IN_TRANSIT && pOtherSoldier->bAssignment != ASSIGNMENT_POW &&
+							pOtherSoldier->bActive && !pOtherSoldier->flags.fMercAsleep && pSoldier->ubProfile != pOtherSoldier->ubProfile )
 						{
 							if ( ProfileHasSkillTrait( pOtherSoldier->ubProfile, SNITCH_NT ) && !( pSoldier->usSoldierFlagMask2 & SOLDIER_PREVENT_MISBEHAVIOUR_OFF ) )
 							{