CONNECTICUT DMV WARNS OF IDENTITY THEFT AFTER COMPUTER STOLEN 7online.com: Connecticut DMV warns of identity theft 12/20/07

Computer stolen from service center

Eyewitness News

HARTFORD -- The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles is notifying 155 customers that their personal information may have been on a computer stolen from a mobile service center vehicle while it was being repaired.

Both the DMV and the State Police have begun investigations into the recovery of the stolen equipment.

Authorities say the personal data on the computer included name, address, date of birth, license number, photo and signature. It is unlikely that the data could be accessed due to a number of security features, including a software program that triggers a deletion of the data when the computer is turned on.

It is important to note that credit card information was encrypted so that it cannot be used and social security numbers were not part of this file. No one who transacted business in a DMV branch office, AAA office or photo license center is affected by this incident.

DMV provides license renewals through two mobile service centers that are customed-designed Winnebagos that travel to different locations around the state. One vehicle had broken down on December 5 and was towed to Interstate Ford in Hartford to be fixed. When DMV officials picked up the vehicle on December 14, they noticed damage to seats in the vehicle and that three computers were missing.

"We do not see any reason for alarm because of the built-in deletion programs that activate when the computer is turned on, but we want to notify people as a precaution since we do not have these computers in our possession," DMV commissioner Robert Ward said.

The DMV is currently working with its license-producing vendor, Viisage of Billerica, MA, on the incident. The company is the state's contractor that provides both the software, computers and the manufacturing process that produces all Connecticut drivers' licenses and identity cards.

DMV will offer affected customers the opportunity to register for free credit monitoring.

Details are available at CT.gov/dmv/dataguard.