Visit www.barracudasecurity.com

Legend

Location Of Theft in AQUA BLUE
URL Of Linked Article In STEEL BLUE or GREEN
Full Content Of Article In BLACK
Theft Description In Body Of Article in RED

Monday, May 07, 2007

UK OFFICE COMPUTERS BEING TARGETED BY THIEVES Thieves Targeting Office Computers (from Thisisdorset):

Thieves targeting office computers
By Dee Adcock
Comment

COMPUTER thieves are targeting commercial premises in Dorchester.

Police are warning businesses to tighten security following a spate of break-ins across the town.

Inspector Les Fry of Dorchester Police said police believed the 10 burglaries could be linked.

He said: 'At this stage we have an open mind but it looks as though they are connected. It's likely to be the same person or persons.'

He said the victims included commercial, NHS and local government offices.

He added: 'Computer equipment is the main focus, especially laptops.

'Other items have also been taken - anything electronic that is small and easily portable.'

Crime reduction officer PC Sean Cannon said: 'The common method of entry has been via smashed or forced windows.

'Offenders have either then entered the buildings or merely reached through and removed equipment.

'In several instances building alarms have not deterred crimes.

"Even when tripped, alarms do not necessarily deter the quick hit-and-run burglaries where equipment is readily available and unprotected."

PC Cannon said the culprits were likely to be looking for new targets and he urged proprietors and staff to tighten security and reduce the risk of being burgled. He said they needed to do more than check their insurance cover.

He said: "Consideration must be given to the significant disruptive effects that go with this sort of crime and the effects on staff morale and the potential issues of data security."

Inspector Fry said police wanted to hear from anyone being offered cheap computers, especially laptops with data still on the hard drive.

He said: "Whoever is doing this is stealing to sell. If anyone is offered anything like this and they have any suspicions please contact the police on 01305 222222. It's also important that anything of value is secured out of sight - don't leave laptops on view to tempt a thief.

"Valuables should all be security marked to make it easier to return stolen goods to their owners."

He added: "We have had spates of burglaries in the past but this latest one is the first of its kind in a long time."

No comments: