[Dataloss] Laptops missing in Connecticut

[Henry Brown]

Report: 28 State Laptops Gone Missing In Past Year
http://www.nbc30.com/news/14073607/detail.html

HARTFORD, Conn. -- More than two dozen state-owned laptop computers have 
been reported lost or stolen since July 2006 from government offices, 
classrooms, employees' vehicles and their homes, according to state records.

The latest incident, a theft reported on Aug. 17, prompted the state to 
offer free identity-theft coverage to the 106,000 taxpayers whose names 
and Social Security numbers were on the computer.

However, another 28 state-owned laptops also have been reported missing 
since July 2006, the Journal Inquirer newspaper of Manchester reported. 
Their combined value exceeds $62,000.

According to records from Comptroller Nancy Wyman's office, some of the 
stolen laptop computers belonged to the state departments of consumer 
protection and environmental protection, and to Southern Connecticut 
State University.

Other missing laptop computers belonged to the University of 
Connecticut, Connecticut Judicial Branch and state Department of 
Education, the newspaper reported.

House Majority Leader Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, whose personal 
information was on the computer reported stolen Aug. 17, said he wants 
the state Department of Revenue Services to release more details about 
the theft.

"We need to find out what's going on, how this could happen, to make 
sure this doesn't happen again," he said.

The laptop computer was among several items reported stolen from a state 
worker's vehicle in Suffolk County, N.Y., although that employee's name 
and title has not been released.

Sara Kaufman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue Services, said 
she could not release details because of the ongoing police 
investigations in New York and Connecticut.