PHOENIX COMPUTERS STOLEN CONTAINING BLOOD AGENCY DONORS DATA Blood agency's donor data on laptops taken from shopThe Arizona Republic
Feb. 28, 2004 12:00 AM


Two computers belonging to United Blood Services that contain personal information about more than 400,000 Arizona blood donors have been stolen, but agency officials said they have no indication those records have been accessed by the thief.

The laptops were stolen, along with eight other computers not owned by the agency, from a Phoenix repair shop Dec. 30.

The laptops held the agency's database of donors from 18 states, with information such as addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers. About half of the Arizona donors in the database had provided the agency with Social Security numbers.

The database goes back seven years, but in certain cases, some donor information could date to the 1980s.

Spokeswoman Barb Kain said the thief would have to figure out multiple "complex" computer sign-ons to access the database. She said the agency believes the 10 computers were stolen for the hardware rather than the database.

For more information, donors can call 1-866-827-4376.