IOWA COMPUTERS STOLEN Crime Report -- Des Moines | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register
1801 Ingersoll Ave., Nov. 13 - An employee at G & L Clothing reported the theft of a laptop computer from the office in the store.
2400 block of East 42nd Street, Nov. 12 - A man reported a ballistic vest, two computers, four stereo components, a camera, jewelry and change stolen. The total value of the items was estimated at $5,500.
Legend
URL Of Linked Article In STEEL BLUE or GREEN
Full Content Of Article In BLACK
Theft Description In Body Of Article in RED
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
CONNECTICUT COMPUTERS MISSING FROM RABBI The Advocate - Synagogue divided over rabbi, board
By John Nickerson
Staff Writer
Published November 22 2007
NORWALK - A struggle for control of Beth Israel Synagogue of Norwalk has erupted between the 108-year-old institution's board of directors and its spiritual leader, Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht.
Last week, the board voted to fire Hecht, and Monday night, the congregation responded by voting to fire the board, synagogue authorities said.
Norwalk police have received three calls from synagogue officials requesting protection and investigation of an alleged theft of office computers belonging to the rabbi and his secretary.
Synagogue President Jerome Klein, a Hecht supporter, said the trouble began Nov. 12, after he canceled a board of directors meeting, only to find out the board met without him that evening.
During the meeting, six or seven board members voted to fire Hecht, canceling the 10 or more years left on his contract, Klein said. Hecht has led the synagogue for 23 years.
The next morning, Hecht called police to report that two computers had been stolen and that he could not get into his office because the lock had been changed, according to a police report.
A board representative had hired an off-duty officer to "stand guard" while the board voted. The officer, hired from 7:30 to 11 p.m., was posted while management removed "several boxes" from the premises, said police Sgt. George Weir, who reviewed a report of the off-duty posting with The Advocate.
When detectives arrived the next morning to investigate the missing computers, Klein told them of the previous night's meeting and that members had entered the synagogue without permission.
Detectives then contacted board member Jeff Bernstein, who told them of the vote to fire Hecht and the removal of the computers, which he said belonged to the synagogue, the police report said. Hecht had told police that morning that his computer was given to him as a gift.
After speaking with attorneys, detectives determined the missing computers were part of an "internal conflict" in the synagogue.
As a result, they decided the dispute was a civil matter and there was no evidence of a crime, the police report said.
Klein, who was voted in as president with the rest of the board about six months ago, said that the vote to oust Hecht is not binding because Klein is the only one legally empowered to convene a board meeting.
Bernstein told police that Klein did not have the authority to cancel the meeting, the police report said.
The board's attorney, Neal Rogan, would not publicly discuss the disagreements between Hecht and the board of directors.
"I cannot answer allegations in the paper," Hecht said yesterday. "That is not for me to do. It is the furthest thing in my mind to show disrespect for an official board of directors."
At a congregational meeting Monday night, a majority vote was taken to recall the entire board of directors, Klein said.
Klein said he called police before the vote because he wanted an officer nearby to ensure a fight would not break out if arguments became heated.
Of the 75 or so families that belong to the congregation, about 70 voted on the question. Klein did not have exact figures, but he said about 45 families voted to disband the board.
Bernstein could not be located for comment. Another board member, Dr. Charles Halasz, said he did not want to comment and deferred to Rogan.
Speaking on behalf of eight of the 13 board members, Rogan said it was unfortunate that Klein chose to make public statements about the synagogue's private matters.
"I represent a majority of the board of directors of Beth Israel Synagogue who have at all times attempted in good faith to preserve the financial and spiritual assets of the synagogue. In addition, the statements made by Mr. Klein as to the results of any votes taken, or the status of Rabbi Hecht are factually and legally inaccurate," Rogan said.
Rogan said his clients were pursuing all legal options available to them and did not want to try the matters in the media.
Hecht said congregation members have spoken through their Monday night vote "with a very clear and persuasive majority."
"I am deeply pained that our very distinguished, loyal and capable president of the synagogue, Mr. Jerry Klein . . . has not been listened to, or respected, as president of the board who provides guidance and perspective to the younger members of the board of directors," Hecht said.
Hecht said the vote showed that the congregation loves its rabbi, even though they may have disagreements.
"I am not blaming anyone," Hecht said. "I am not condemning anyone. This is not a finger-pointing experience. In the final analysis, this is a family. A family that pulls together from time to time sometimes airs its differences."
Stormont ministers examine data security
Thursday, November 22, 2007
By Sam Lister
The Stormont Executive will discuss the state of Northern Ireland's data security today in the wake of the Government's bank details blunder.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown was forced to apologise yesterday for the fiasco, which saw details of about 25 million people across the UK go missing on two posted computer discs.
Every family that receives child benefit is reportedly affected.
There are fears that if the discs fall into the wrong hands, their bank accounts would be vulnerable.
The missing records include parents' and children's names, addresses, dates of birth, child benefit and national insurance numbers and, in some cases, bank and building society details.
The loss happened three weeks ago, but details only became public on Tuesday, when Paul Gray, the chair of Revenue and Customs, resigned.
At today's lunchtime executive meeting, Mr Robinson will brief other Ministers on the review he ordered yesterday.
"The loss of citizens' personal information by HMRC has underlined the need for strong systems of protection and control," he said.
"Given the gravity of yesterday's events and the need to reassure the public and indeed our own staff that proper systems of information management and control are in place and functioning properly, I have instigated an immediate four-week review.
"The review will examine in close detail the effectiveness of personal data security systems across Northern Ireland departments in order to provide reassurance to the public that their personal information is being protected."
Mr Robinson has already joined with the banks in urging all Northern Ireland recipients of child benefit payments to be vigilant and to monitor bank statements in case criminals have tried to hack into their accounts.
The Information Commissioner's Office in Northern Ireland was inundated with calls about the breach.
During Prime Minister's questions yesterday, Tory leader David Cameron said the bungle proved there were "systematic failures" and problems with the security, privacy and culture in handling sensitive data.
He called on the Prime Minister to be a "big man", adding people would find it "truly bizarre" if the government ploughs ahead with the controversial plans for a national identity scheme after losing 25 million personal files.
"What people want from their Prime Minister on a day like this is for him to stand up, show some broad shoulders and be a big man," Mr Cameron said.
"The Prime Minister was in charge of this department for 10 years. By definition that must have been when the systemic failure was developed."
Latest figures show there were 237,700 families in Northern Ireland claiming benefits for 446,000 children under the age of 16.
Mr Brown attempted to reassure families that bank accounts were being checked and there was no evidence of fraud. He has ordered a review of procedures in all government departments.
KENTUCKY COMPUTER THIEVES ARRESTED Louisville police charge six in 22 burglaries
Police called them the Rock Bandits — a burglary ring that is suspected of smashing backdoor windows of 150 to 200 homes across Louisville to steal belongings they could later pawn.
From Sept. 25 to Nov. 15, the ring allegedly broke into three to five homes a day, taking jewelry, DVD players, laptop computers and guns in middle- to upper-class suburban neighborhoods.
A traffic stop last week brought their crime spree to a sudden halt, police say.
Police matched a car to one described near the break-ins, then found mail inside belonging to a retired police officer whose home had been burglarized twice.
"That put the whole pie together," said Sgt. James Hellinger, a detective in the 3rd Division.
Now, three halfway house residents and their girlfriends have been charged in 22 burglaries, Hellinger said, and are suspects in more than 150 additional burglaries.
Victims like Norma Gray are wondering if they will ever get their possessions back.
Earlier this month, Gray came home to find her house ransacked — and her mother's diamond wedding ring gone.
As a little girl, she had helped her father pick out the ring.
When her mother died more than a year ago, Gray tucked the ring away with her own jewelry, intending to give it to her 13-year-old daughter someday.
Gray lost other jewelry also, but it is the ring she misses most.
"That was the most upsetting thing," Gray said.
Quick trip to pawnshop
Hellinger said the group would take the items they stole to several local pawnshops to get cash.
"This group was so addicted to the money they kept going," Hellinger said. "The only way they were going to stop was if they got arrested."
Michael Barkley, 28, Steven Harrison, 36, and LaQuan Owsley, 26, have all been charged with 22 counts of burglary. Harrison and Owsley each also face one charge of robbery in connection with a Sept. 28 robbery at the Rally's at 5506 New Cut Road, Hellinger said.
Three women — who were dating the men and allegedly served as lookouts and getaway drivers and who allegedly pawned items — were also arrested.
Jessica Hockensmith, 19, and Lindsay Reese, 25, have been charged with four counts each of burglary. Jennifer Shepherd, 23, is charged with one count of receiving stolen property over $300.
The beginning
The break-ins began the day, Harrison told police during an interview, that he arrived in Louisville from Dayton, Ohio — assigned to live in a halfway house on Griffiths Avenue because he was on parole for an Ohio robbery charge, Hellinger said.
All the men arrested were living either in the house on Griffiths or another halfway house on Rowan Street.
Within a week of the first burglary, Hellinger said he began to notice similarities in some burglaries.
One of the men would go to the front door, and if someone answered, ask, "Is Jennifer here?" and then move on, Hellinger said.
If no one answered, the man would go to the back door and use a rock to break out a window pane so the door could be unlocked.
In some cases, the burglars kicked in or pried open the back door if there was no window to break. Hellinger said the men admitted that they would hit several houses in an area and then go right to pawnshops to get cash for the stolen items.
People pawning merchandise must show only identification and claim the items belong to them in order for pawnshops to buy them, said Lt. Danny Assef, who oversees the unit that investigates pawnshops.
Police estimate that the group was getting $500 to $1,000 a day from pawnshops.
Some witnesses in the areas of burglaries described a car to police — a red four-door Oldsmobile.
On Nov. 15, Officer Chris Bruce noticed a car fitting the description speeding out of a subdivision and made a traffic stop, Hellinger said.
When police searched the car, they found mail from one of the burglarized homes in the backseat, Hellinger said.
That led to the arrests.
Victim glad of arrests
Mark McCoy, whose home was burglarized on Oct. 2, said he's relieved arrests have been made.
"It's like the weight of the world off your shoulders just knowing they were caught," McCoy said.
Among the things stolen from the McCoys' home on Trappers Ridge Court was his wife's engagement and wedding rings, which he gave her when they were married 35 years ago.
McCoy said he's thankful no one was hurt in the break-in but said he's angry that people violated his home.
"We're hard workers," he said. "One thing I don't have ... use for is a thief."
Both McCoy and Gray said they don't know if they will ever see their heirlooms again, but they hope something can be done.
Police hope to be able to get stolen items returned to their rightful owners. Hellinger said officers are going through pawnshop records to match the stolen goods with the victims, but it is a time-consuming process. "Be patient," Hellinger advised.
Reporter Jessie Halladay can be reached at (502) 582-4081.
FLORIDA COMPUTER STOLEN Police reports from local municipalities - 11/22/2007 - MiamiHerald.com:
A thief took a laptop computer, an iPod and jewelry from an unlocked house in the 19300 block of Northwest 48th Avenue
DC COMPUTERS STOLEN Crime Report - washingtonpost.com:
RESTINA RD.,13700 block, 6:05 p.m. Nov. 5 to 10:40 a.m. Nov. 6. A TV, a computer, a DVD player, a radio, a stereo, a football helmet, toys and a cellphone battery charger were stolen from a residence.
BELVEDERE DR. N,14400 block, 10 p.m. Nov. 10 to 6 p.m. Nov. 12. Two laptop computers, two saws, a screw gun, a leather work belt and tools were stolen from a building entered by forcing a front door.
ALABAMA COMPUTER STOLEN - Grandma catches burglars Curnutt said the grandmother, who he did not identify, heard a noise and ran next door to her daughter’s home to see what was happening. That is when she noticed the door open and called police. “As she called the police, a guy came out of the house,” Curnutt said. “But he waited with her until the law arrived on the scene.” Two 17-year-olds were arrested and each charged with third-degree burglary. One of the teens is also charged with illegal possession of marijuana, investigators said. “They had been burglarized before and had set up the baby monitor just in case it happened again,” Curnutt said. “Sure enough, between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, it happened. She heard those noises inside the house that she knew weren’t coming from any members of her family.” The daughter who lives in the house in the 26000 block of Newby Road, had a laptop computer stolen from her home recently while she was away, Curnutt said. Investigators said the daughter was at work Tuesday when her home was entered illegally again. Investigator Josh McLaughlin made the arrests. The teenagers have been turned over to county juvenile authorities for prosecution.
A Limestone County grandmother nabbed two burglary suspects Tuesday after she used a baby-monitoring device to detect the burglars inside her daughter’s home.
“She lived next door to her daughter, and by using the baby monitor, she heard strange noises coming from the house,” said Limestone County Investigator Brad Curnutt. “As it turned out, two burglars were inside the house looking for something to steal.”
UK HUNT WIDENS FOR COMPUTER THIEVES Evening Star - Hunt widens for laptop thieves
Hunt widens for laptop thieves
DETECTIVES hunting thieves who stole a laptop computer with the bank details of everybody on a Suffolk council's payroll have teamed up with other officers outside East Anglia.
Bank and national insurance details of 1,380 people employed by St Edmundsbury Borough Council were stored on the computer stolen from the home of a senior council officer in September.
A Suffolk police spokeswoman was unable to state which forces were being worked with for operational reasons but she did confirm suspects had been identified.
The revelation comes just days after the Government revealed two computer discs with personal information of 25 million people were lost after a breach of procedures at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
In the wake of the St Edmundsbury laptop theft all employees, including council members, were instructed to check their bank accounts on a daily basis amid fears over fraud.
A council spokeswoman said nobody had become a victim of fraud as a result of the theft.
TEXAS COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM BUSINESS The Beaumont Enterprise - 3:50 PM Items stolen from Orange thrift shop
ORANGE - Thrift and Gift shop employees report that two computers and about $150 in jewelry were stolen from the shop sometime between 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16 and 8:30 a.m. Nov. 20.
The computers are described as a silver HP desktop computer with a 15-inch monitor and a white Athon desktop computer with a 17-inch monitor.
The Orange Community Bridge League, with offices near the Thrift and Gift, also reported missing a black Nokia Tracfone and a white Canon copy machine.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
November 22, 2007 12:00am
VICTORIA'S latest emerging crime trend appears to be a sign of the times.
Police said yesterday water tanks and electric pumps had become a target of thieves.
Four stolen tanks were recently recovered when police raided a property in the eastern suburbs after a tip-off to Crime Stoppers.
The police co-ordinator of Crime Stoppers, Det-Insp Val Smith, said the tanks were an unexpected bonus for police who went to the property to investigate reports of drug trafficking.
"Since then we've heard other reports of water tanks being stolen," Det-Insp Smith said.
"I guess it's another case of supply and demand driving the market for thieves.
"Once upon a time most burglars just targeted jewellery and cash, then it was VCRs, then DVDs, then mobile telephones.
"Lately there's been a growing number of reports of GPS units stolen from cars, and laptop computers are still popular."
MARYLAND COMPUTER STOLEN Police Blotter -- baltimoresun.com:
Theft // A laptop computer valued at $1,800 was stolen Thursday from a house in the first block of E. Eager St. The theft was reported Monday.
UK COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL Computers Stolen From School (from Wiltshire Times)
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a burglary at Abbeyfield School in Chippenham.
Three men broke into a portable building being used as a temporary sixth form building at the school in Stanley Lane at about 5pm on Wednesday October 14.
Computer equipment, including lap-tops, kept inside the classroom was stolen and internal doors were damaged.
Police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time of the incident.
Wiltshire Police can be contacted on 0845 408 7000, or anyone wishing to leave information anonymously can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
2:20pm today
INDIA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM DEFENCE ORGANIZATION Three computers stolen from Kanpur DRDO lab-India-The Times of India
22 Nov 2007, 0025 hrs IST,
Akhilesh Kumar Singh
,
TNN
CANADA CANADIAN FIRMS ADMIT DATA PROTECTION CHALLENGES IT Business: The purpose of the study by the Ottawa, Ont.-based high-tech association was to delve into Canadians' perception of IT security, identify the foremost IT security challenges and to create awareness around the need for IT security, said CATA's vice-president of research, Kevin Wennekes. “Security has been an issue and accentuated after [Sept. 11, 2001] but always been in the background,” he said during a panel discussion at this week's SecTor 2007 conference in Toronto. The study polled 322 respondents – the majority of whom were from large enterprises – including CIOs, project managers and a variety of frontline IT security staff like network operators and systems auditors. Polling a wide range of respondents would help highlight the often varying opinions between different levels in the organization, said Wennekes. Sixteen per cent of respondents identified the lack of IT security best practices as being the top challenge affecting their organization. Fifteen per cent of respondents cited data protection and 13 per cent cited access management challenges as their top challenges. Not surprisingly, those top three challenge areas align with regulatory compliance issues facing businesses of all sizes, said Mark Fabro, president and CEO of Markham, Ont.-based IT security management vendor Lofty Perch Inc. “You actually see people paying attention to things in IT security space that are actually going to be important.” Sixty-eight percent of respondents spend up to 20 per cent of each day addressing IT security challenges, and a quarter of all respondents observed this percentage of their day increasing given evolving security threats. That increase in time spent tackling IT security issues is influencing IT spending, most notably observed in the shift in investment from point solutions to management technologies, said Brian O'Higgins, chief technology officer of Ottawa, Ont.-based intrusion detection technology vendor Third Brigade Inc. “As security gets built into people's roles, you'll see smarter investment.”
Canadian firms admit data protection challenges
The top issues identified facing the enterprise include best practices, data protection and access management 11/21/2007 11:35:00 AM
by Kathleen Lau
Lack of best practices, data protection and access management were the primary IT security challenges facing respondents of a recent CATA Alliance survey.
“They're starting to want to add more impact and value to the business,” he said.
The survey also found 60 per cent of respondents believe that Canada can take a leadership role in IT security globally. Reasons behind these results included the perception that Canada is a neutral country trusted to handle sensitive security issues, and it has a host of companies and organizations that drive IT security.
Canada has always had a presence in the realm of IT security outside of the country, but that's now becoming more evident, said O'Higgins, adding the Canadian government is renown for being a best practices leader in IT security “and that drives a lot of industry around it.”
In the area of IT security skills, about half of respondents felt that having those skills gave them a competitive advantage for promotions and jobs. This recognition of the necessity of those skills is good for the industry, said O'Higgins, especially in small companies where IT skills in general is lacking, and security skills are nearly non-existent.
Actually, this finding aligns with how organizations have moved to using cyber security as a business enabler and differentiator, observed Fabro. “That also is in alignment with how IT professionals are beginning now to allow security to become part of their personal arsenal of capability.”
Networks of interaction, like conferences and user groups, were cited as the best places to find IT security information. This finding makes sense, said Fabro, considering Canada has a tendency to create its own domains of interest, and work closely with peers within those domains
Federal agencies are required to have accurate and up-to-date information regarding their IT assets. BigFix's software tracks and discovers PCs, handheld, and other digital devices accessing a network. It evaluates those machines for security holes and installed software, and then applies updates and deletes or adds files to enforce policy decisions made by administrators.
BigFix is partnering with Patriot Technologies, a Frederick, Md., company that provides computer security software and services to the federal government.
The companies will provide asset discovery and systems management to U.S. federal agencies including Department of Defense components such as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all military departments, NATO, defense agencies, and intelligence agencies.
Founded in 1997, BigFix employs about about 165 people, up from about 90 employees in December 2006. Its president and CEO is Dave Robbins.
Syrian Police Return Columbia Student's Stolen Laptop
By Matteen Mokalla
MIA 2008 As a pseudo-tech-guy I have to admit that Columbia IT does a fairly decent job of keeping faculty, students, and staff aware of what they need to do to keep their computer safe. In fact, CUIT even offers a few software solutions for free to all of Columbia and its affiliates, including Norton Anti-Virus and the laptop anti-theft software PC PhoneHome.
According to the Bragadoon Security Group, the proprietors of PC PhoneHome, the software works by sending an "invisible email" to an email address of your choosing every time your laptop connects to the internet. In the event your laptop isstolen, you inform Bragadoon and they take it over from there by working with various local police departments to recover your laptop.
Sounds too good to be true.
But today, the Columbia Department of Public Safety sent out a campus wide email announcing a former graduate student's stolen laptop had been recovered from a Syrian pawn shop.
Talk about diplomacy through IT!
Now, if only CUIT would be kind enough to offer Mac PhoneHome to those of us who are smart enough to stay away from Windows! The text of the entire announcement after the jump,
Department of Public Safety Goes Global
CU Graduate Student’s Stolen Laptop Recovered in Syria
You already know that Columbia’s Department of Public Safety protects the University community in upper Manhattan, but did you know that we can keep your property safe around the world?
In early November, a former Columbia graduate student informed Public Safety that his laptop was stolen in Syria. While at Columbia, the student had prudently joined two of Public Safety’s free crime prevention programs, Operation ID, which provides engraving and registration of property with the NYPD and CU and PC PhoneHome, which uses software to help recover stolen or lost laptops.
Public Safety contacted the Brigadoon Security Group, the PC PhoneHome vendor, who was able to identify the exact location of the stolen laptop – in this case a computer pawn shop in Syria. The Syrian Police Department responded immediately and recovered the laptop, which was easily identified as the student’s through the Operation ID program.
“This is a great example of how taking proper precautions with your property can prevent crime anywhere,” said Jim McShane, Associate Vice President of Public Safety. “Special thanks go to CUIT and Public Safety Sergeant Anthony Mendez, who initially alerted the PC PhoneHome program.”
Both Operation ID & PC PhoneHome programs are FREE! For more information please call Columbia University Crime Prevention at 212-854-8513.
Progress made in computer compliance, Boeing says
Boeing couldn't prove it could protect computers against manipulation, fraud
By ANDREA JAMES
P-I REPORTER
The Boeing Co. has told the Seattle P-I, in response to questions, that it is making progress on its Sarbanes-Oxley compliance testing in its information technology department, despite auditor turnover.
While the Chicago-based company won't disclose its full compliance status until it files its annual financial report, "We can say that for 2007, SOx testing is progressing well and we're making progress retiring certain issues previously reported by the P-I," the company said in an e-mail.
In July, the P-I reported that internal and external auditors had found deficiencies in Boeing's control over its computer information systems. The deficiencies meant that, for three years in a row, the company could not prove it could protect its computer systems against manipulation, theft and fraud.
The audit findings came as a result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a federal law enacted after the Enron scandal, which was designed to prevent corporate scams. The law requires public companies to evaluate internal controls and prove that it has checks and balances on people andcomputer systems to guarantee accuracy of financial statements.
Boeing has always maintained that the financial information it has reported to shareholders is accurate. Although the company struggled with its information systems controls, compliance came easily to the company's finance teams, which monitor accounting and business operations controls, the P-I investigation found.
At Boeing, the responsibility of ensuring Sarbanes-Oxley compliance falls under Harry McGee, corporate controller. Boeing's corporate audit team, within the company's Office of Internal Governance headed by Wanda Denson-Low, does additional testing to ensure compliance. Under the law, a company's chief executive and chief financial officer are ultimately responsible, as they are the ones who sign their names to the company's financial statements and face criminal penalties if the information is wrong.
Several of Boeing's auditors and managers on the SOx effort have left the company or transferred to new units in the past several months, citing various reasons that included stressful working conditions in the department and better opportunities elsewhere.
Among those leaving is Audit Vice President Bob Jouret, who announced his retirement after having worked for Boeing for 30 years. He will leave his position Dec. 3 and officially retire in March.
Jouret's replacement, Kelvin Council, is currently the vice president of finance and chief financial officer for several groups at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, including 787, product development, and engineering and manufacturing.
When asked whether employee and auditor turnover affects Boeing's ability to complete its testing, the company responded: "It doesn't. SOx testing is largely performed by the control performers and overseen in part by contractors from PricewaterhouseCoopers."
Control performers are Boeing employees who work in the departments that are being audited and perform the processes that are being tested. PricewaterhouseCoopers holds a contract to assist Boeing with its internal audits. The company's external auditor is Deloitte & Touche.
SEATTLEPI.COM
To read the P-I's special report about Boeing's struggles with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance in its information technology department, see: seattlepi.com/boeing/sox/
VIRGINIA COMPUTERS STOLEN Falls Church News-Press - Falls Church City Crime Report: "
November 13 - 19, 2007 Burglary-Commercial, Defense Group Inc., 307 E Annandale Rd., between November 12, 7:00 p.m. and November 13, 8:00 a.m., unknown person(s) entered the establishment and stole two laptop computers.
TENNESSEE COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOLS MyFox Memphis | Dozens of MCS Laptops Reported Stolen
Dozens of MCS Laptops Reported Stolen |
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Last Edited: Tuesday, 20 Nov 2007, 7:53 PM CST |
Created: Tuesday, 20 Nov 2007, 7:53 PM CST |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WHBQ FOX13 myfoxmemphis.com) --
Some school-issued laptops could have more value on the streets than they have educational value in the classroom. Dozens are missing from Memphis City Schools and robbers and thieves are to blame.
In September, the city school district announced thousands of students would benefit from a program called the Epic Learning System. It places laptops in schools. Some students even get to take them home to help them study.
But the walk to and from school isn't easy when thieves are after their homework.
Many students walk home everyday with bags that have the Epic Learning logo printed on them. For criminals that logo looks like a bulls eye.
"I had one boy in my classroom say he got jumped... his eye was real red," Shantina Austin said.
Austin said it was all for a laptop.
Her mother said the computer's educational value isn't much on the streets. T o a thief the computers are as good as gold.
"They're laptops, a lot of people want them, and the kids have them," said Carla Lewis. "They figure if they can swindle them out of them, they will."
And it's working.
According the Memphis Police Department, since October at least 30 laptops have been reported stolen by non-violent means.
In 13 cases students said they were robbed of their school-issued laptops.
"Students are walking home after school and somebody will either come out of nowhere or pull-up in a car, jump out and take the laptops either by force or by use of a firearm," Memphis Police Lt. Michael Williams said.
The school district said the Epic laptops were bought with state money and 8,000 students in the district benefit from the new program.
"We have about 800 or 900 laptops that were given to our young people at Melrose," said Melrose Principal LaVaughn Bridges. "And I think out of that 800 or 900, we have maybe about half a dozen, maybe a dozen that have either been taken from students at some point and most of them have been away from school."
The district won't say how many laptops are missing since police are conducting investigations. But Austin is making sure thieves don't have their eyes on her laptop.
"Sometimes I leave it at home so I can be safe, so nobody would hit me for it or anything," Austin said.
The city school district did issue a statement saying it's aware of the thefts and it supports the police investigation.
Eleven striving schools and five non-traditional schools received those Epic laptops.
THAILAND SECURITY GUARDS ARRESTED FOR STEALING COMPUTER Phuket Gazette - online English newspaper for Phuket, Thailand, with daily news, classified ads, yellow pages, business listings, upcoming events, event calendar, phuket events
Security guards arrested for theft
KATA: Police arrested four employees of a private security firm for stealing valuables from the same people they were hired to protect: guests and staff at the Club Med Phuket resort in Kata.
Chalong Police Superintendent Col Samarn Chainarong presented the four guards to the media at a press conference at Chalong Police Station yesterday morning
The first two presented were Nakhon Sri Thammarat native Thanawan Wanwet, 30, and his co-worker Sommai Chusit, 40, of Phuket. They were arrested about 9 pm last Friday by an investigation team led by Lt Col Suchart Suwanpirom.
The pair were presented along with a Nokia N80 cellphone valued at 14,000 baht and 3,600 baht in cash as evidence to be used against them.
The stolen phone and money belonged to Club Med staffer Jeerasak Ngaokrachang, 33.
Also a native of Phuket, K. Jeerasak assisted in the successful police investigation that led to the return of his telephone after it was sold for 4,000 baht at the Ole Mobile Phone Shop on Patak Rd in Rawai.
The two guards, both employed by the Group 4 Securicor (G4S) office on the bypass road, are now being held at Phuket Provincial Court in Rassada.
The second pair were identified as Nakhon Sri Thammarat natives Nattapong Banlang, 28, and Rattanaphum Krungkaew, 31. They were arrested by the same investigation team late Sunday night for swiping a 50,000-baht notebook computer belonging to 26-year-old Jessica Rachel, a Club Med employee from the US.
The computer went missing after she had placed it on a table in a changing room for entertainers on Friday. She noticed it had disappeared about 11 am the following day, she said.
Ms Rachel immediately suspected security staff and filed a report with Chalong Police, who quickly learned that the image of a man who tried to sell a used notebookcomputer at a shop in the area had been captured by the store’s CCTV camera.
According to the press release, when investigators approached Nattapong at 10:30 pm on Sunday at the PTT service station in Karon, he asked them: “Who are you coming to arrest?”
“We are coming to arrest you,” an officer replied.
The press release said that Nattapong immediately confessed and later led police to Rattanaphum’s home in Soi Koktanode in Chalong, where he was arrested.
The men sold the computer for 10,000 baht at the Mala Video shop and split the proceeds, much of which had already been spent, the press release said.
Without specifying names, the police report noted that some of the suspects’ urine turned purple during a drug test, indicating that they had recently used ya bah (methamphetamine).
The report also said that a background check had revealed that some of the suspects had criminal cases pending against them in Appeals Courts in other provinces.
The press release ended with Col Samarn urging private security firms to conduct thorough police background checks before hiring new staff and advising hotels to install CCTV cameras.
INDIANA (UPDATE) FEDS JOIN INVESTIGATION INTO RECENT VA COMPUTER THEFT WISH TV 8: Indianapolis News and Weather - Feds Join Congressman in VA Hospital Theft Investigation
SEE VIDEO................
Feds Join Congressman in VA Hospital Theft Investigation
Posted: Nov 20, 2007 06:52 PM
24-Hour News 8 @ 6:00
INDIANAPOLIS - The Inspector General of Veterans Affairs and an Indiana congressman are in town investigating why there was another security breach at the VA hospital.
The Veteran's Day theft puts 12,000 central Indiana veterans at risk of identity theft. Now, with the FBI and IMPD tracking the case, there is a message for the thieves.
The Inspector General has been investigating at the Roudebush VA Medical Center since Thursday, and confirms he is treating it as a crime scene.
With so many veterans at risk, Indiana Congressman Steve Buyer flew in with staff to tour the medical center alongside the director and the chief information officer.
Buyer wants answers.
"Veterans have a right to be upset. They have a right to be concerned," said Buyer.
"The computers that were stolen were in a locked office. And it is being investigated as how that office was accessed," said Susan Bowers, Director of Roudebush VA Medical Center.
Buyer guesses the thief was unaware of the impact of the crime.
"There's an individual that is dealing with the 'oh my God' factor. 'I stole it. I thought I was just gonna make a quick buck. I had no idea this information was on there.' And they're scared."
One of the stolen computers contained the names, social security numbers and other sensitive information of more than 12,000 veterans.
"We have staff 24-hours, seven days a week, 365 a year. As such it's much more difficult for us to lock down the entire facility and that does create vulnerabilities," said Bowers.
"I have a message for the thieves. You are the only one that can mitigate the stupidity of your act. And that is, come forward and bring these computers back," added Buyer.
The VA is looking at increasing the physical security of the building along with information security. New rules gave the VA three years to get the technology up to date to protect the veteran's information. We're in the middle of a three-year period.
Meanwhile, Roudebush is sending letters to all of the 12,000 veterans and the VA pays for a year of credit monitoring.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
TEXAS COMPUTERS STOLEN KTRE-TV - Lufkin/Nacogdoches, TX - Lufkin Police Report - 11/20/07
BURGLARY OF A BUILDING: 700 BLOCK OF LUBBOCK STREET. Complainant reported that a classroom at Hackney Primary was broken into Sunday night and two computers were stolen.
ALABAMA COMPUTERS STOLEN Huntsville police blotter - Breaking News from The Huntsville Times - al.com:
• A burglar broke into a Blue Spring Road church and stole two Dell computers worth $800, damaging the door to the store room.
NEW JERSEY THIEVES LEAVE COMPUTERS BEHIND AFTER TRIGGERING MOTION DETECTOR ALARM AT SCHOOL North Jersey Media Group providing local news, sports & classifieds for Northern New Jersey!
Thieves flee School 27, leave computers behind
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 | |
PATERSON -- Thieves ransacked classrooms and nearly stole several desktop computers from School 27 in the city's Hillcrest section, police said Monday.
At about 4:20 a.m. Monday, a motion-detecting security alarm inside a school stairwell tripped and alerted police. But by the time patrol officers arrived at the Richmond Avenue elementary school, the would-be thieves were long gone, Detective Lt. Don Giaquinto said.
The Paterson Police Department's crime scene unit swept the school for fingerprints and other evidence.The thieves broke into eight classrooms and had nearly completed the burglary before police arrived.
Investigators discovered several computers, including monitors and keyboards, lined up near the stairwell where the alarm tripped. The stairwell leads to an exit.
Police had not yet determined how the thieves broke into the school, or if they were successful in stealing anything. There are no security cameras in the school, Giaquinto said. -- Ed Beeson
Cops: Nab prostitutes hauling off computer after john didn't pay
HOBOKEN - Police picked up two Jersey City prostitutes who snatched a computer in lieu of payment from a customer Saturday, police reports said.
Kristen Carberry, 25, of Sip Avenue, was charged with two counts of theft of property and one count of prostitution, police said. Erica Reiper, 34, of the same address, was charged with one count of theft, one count of prostitution and possession of hypodermic needle, police said.
Police were dispatched to a Park Avenue home after receiving a call at 12:48 p.m. from a neighbor who saw two women leave the building with computer equipment, police said.
The women got into a taxi, but were pulled over by an officer at Second Street and Willow Avenue, reports said. Carberry claimed that she had borrowed the computer, screen and keyboard from a friend and would return it if he would let them go, police said.
Carberry later confessed she and Reiper took the equipment because the victim did not have enough money to pay for sex, reports said.
CHARLES HACK
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - So much for the hospitable heartland.
UCLA's coaching staff had $10,000 worth of computer equipment stolen, including two laptops, from the team's hotel a day before Monday's 71-59 win against Maryland in the semifinals of the CBE Classic at Sprint Center.
One of the computers contained edited film of five Michigan State games, which the team was to study in preparation for today's final.
UCLA had backup films, but Bruins assistant Scott Garson, who was assigned to scout Michigan State, was up most of the night to again edit the tape.
"The hotel security interviewed everybody at the hotel, checked all the lockers," Garson said. "It's easy to blame, but "
One of the hotel ballrooms UCLA uses housed the team's video equipment. Garson said the room was also being used for team meals, so workers from the hotel were in and out during the day.
The room was supposed to be locked. However, when the Bruins returned from practicing at a local junior college Sunday, they learned the equipment was missing.
The theft was reported to hotel management, and a report was filed with the Kansas City police department, but there is no resolution.
Garson estimated the value of the stolen laptops, hardware and software to be $10,000.
"Fortunately, we brought four laptops, three of which are video," Garson said. "One of (the stolen laptops) was the one I was working on with Michigan State, so I was up all night getting caught up again. It was five games, completely edited, very detailed.
"The other (laptop) was one that I work on, the one that has all my papers, all my writeups on it. Fortunately, I have a backup of it that I did about a month and a half ago."
The trip didn't start well, either. Bruins coach Ben Howland said the team bus broke down after leaving campus Saturday.
UK COMPUTERS STOLEN Burnley Crime File - November 20th - Burnley Express
A HOUSE in Lionel Street had £2,750-worth of goods stolen following a break-in. A Nintendo Wii, an Xbox 360, a Prada mobile phone and lap-top computer were among the items stolen.
A £400 HP lap-top computer and a mobile phone, valued at £100, were stolen from a house in Pine Street, Burnley.
SOUTH AFRICA COMPUTER STOLEN Sowetan - News
The marriage of the woman accused of defrauding a hotel and a car hire company using the Presidency’s letterheads is on the rocks.
The husband of Moleboheng Molotsane, 26, yesterday said he intended ending his marriage to the former employee in the Presidency.
Benjamin Molotsane, 29, spoke to journalists after his and his wife’s appearance at the Vereeniging regional court.
The couple made headlines last year after allegedly defrauding a Vaal hotel, a car hire and horse-and-carriage hire company when they used letterheads from President Thabo Mbeki’s office to arrange their extravagant wedding.
The couple allegedly duped the companies into believing that their bill, which amounted to about R90 000, would be settled by the highest office in the land.
Before their arrest, Moleboheng had been employed as a secretary in the Presidency where she allegedly stole a computer and letterheads which she used to defraud these companies.
The computer was later recovered by the police in Mpumalanga after she had sold it to an appliance store in Vereeniging.
Molotsane is out on R3500 bail while her husband is out on a warning. Inside the courtroom the two never said a word to each other. Before their appearance Moleboheng was alone while her husband was in the company of his family.
“ I intend divorcing her soon and I cannot comment further,” Molotsane said.
She, on the other hand, declined to comment and promised to speak in January when the matter would be finalised.
“My marriage does not belong to the public. I was caught in the middle of political issues. Just be patient, I will give you a full story,” she said.
TOP STORY: IT thieves hit schools
20.11.2007
KELLY BURNS THIEVES with an eye for electronics are targeting schools with more than $20,000 of valuables stolen in the past month. Laptops, digital cameras, projectors, desk-top computers and even food from the tuck-shop have been stolen. One school had the metal lettering of its name stolen from the entrance. Schools in Hastings, Flaxmere and Central Hawke's Bay have fallen victim to the burglars - many more than once - and are counting the cost. But police say it's the pupils who are losing most as key learning resources are stolen. Hastings law enforcement team analyst Robbie Barrand said 19 schools had been broken into over the past five weeks. |
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Eleven schools had electronics stolen, while the remaining schools showed signs of a break-in. Police believed the cost of the stolen property was more than $20,000. Waipawa Primary School principal Bev Robinson said the school had about 12 break-ins in the last term. Thieves had stolen electronics and each time left a costly trail of broken windows and doors. Mrs Robinson said as the insurance excess had risen to $1000 replacing the property came out of the operational grant. "It's been depressing and a huge load of paperwork, and the school just can't afford it." "We're at the point now where we can't replace anything, we can't afford it." "We would like them [thieves] to know they are taking away from the poorer children in the community and we are not going to let it happen - we are out to get them." Last Monday, Ebbett Park Primary School in Hastings was burgled and a laptop, a television, two computers and five radio cassette players were taken. Principal John Stevenson said it was the fifth burglary this year and alarms were being installed. While insurance would cover the burglary, the property would not be able to be replaced until next year. "It's extremely frustrating. We're trying to teach the children ICT, and the next thing our computers are being stolen." "The children are really brassed off by it all." Mr Barrand said schools should lock away valuables and install alarms. Police appealed to neighbours to keep an eye on schools and the public to be aware of anybody trying to sell the property. No arrests had been made and anyone with information on the burglaries can contact the confidential crimeline on 0800 567789. |
MISSOURI COMPUTERS STOLEN Police Beat - @Press
Monday, November 12
8:38 a.m.-LARCENY-SIMON HALL-Complainant reported his laptop computer and carrying case stolen from his office in Simon. The theft occurred between 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 9 until around 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 11. The computer was valued at $1600. Disposition: Pending
Wednesday, November 14
2:39 p.m.-LARCENY-EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCE-Faculty member reported the theft of her laptop computer, cell phone, and a check. Theft occurred on November 14 between the hours of 1:45 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. hours when she had left her office unlocked. Total loss to the university approx. $2000. Total loss to the faculty member approx. $344. Disposition: Pending
Monday, November 19, 2007
TENNESSEE COMPUTERS CONTAINING PATIENT DATA STOLEN FORM DOCTOR'S OFFICE NewsChannel 5.com Nashville, Tennessee - Laptop Stolen; Patient Privacy In Jeopardy
Laptop Stolen; Patient Privacy In Jeopardy
Posted: Nov 19, 2007 06:39 PM
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Someone stole two laptop computers from a doctor's office in Murfreesboro. The computers contained information that could jeopardize patients' privacy.
It happened in Murfreesboro at the Family Practice Partners office. The computers contained patient and insurance information.
Murfreesboro Police report the YFI cards on the computer were removed and left behind.
The police report indicates only a certain number of people had a key to the office where the computers were kept.
IOWA CHEAP STOLEN COMPUTER LEADS TO ARREST The Hawk Eye
Corner computer buy nets theft charge
By JOHN MANGALONZO
Buying a computer from a corner street vendor may cost very little compared to department store prices, but it can also cost jail or even prison time.
Just ask 27-year-old Malik Sekousahdi Buchanan.
Instead of enjoying hours of fun on the Internet with a laptop computer, Buchanan finds himself charged with second-degree theft, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
He has pleaded not guilty on the charge and is scheduled to stand trial Feb. 12.
His legal woes began Oct. 1 when an unidentified person on a street corner sold him a $1,000 laptop for $250, a deal he said was too hard to resist. That laptop was reportedstolen from a home burglary a week earlier in the 800 block of White Street.
What the burglar probably did not know was that the laptop was equipped with a tracking device that gives its location when the computer is hooked up and a user goes online.
On Oct. 5, detectives received information from the tracking company that the stolen laptop had been turned on and hooked to a wireless Internet connection.
Investigators, armed with a subpoena, were given an address where the computer might be at 521 S. Sixth St.
Residents of the home, upon questioning from detectives, said they didn't have any knowledge of a stolen computer, but did mention they were having problems with a neighbor tapping into their wireless Internet.
The residents told police they had seen a heavy-set black man, later identified as Buchanan, using a laptop computer on the porch of 510 S. Sixth St.
U-M student awakes to intruder in home
Posted by Art Aisner | The Ann Arbor News November 19, 2007 08:54AM
A intruder entered a home in the 700 block of South Forest Avenue while three female University of Michigan students were sleeping and stole several computers and purses early Sunday morning, Ann Arbor police said.
A 20-year-old woman reported she was awakened by a noise just before 6 a.m. and saw the silhouette of man in the entrance of her bedroom, police said.
The stranger fled as soon as he realized she was awake and she was not harmed. She and her two roommates reported their laptops, digital cameras and purses containing their driver's licenses and student identification were stolen.
The intruder was described as a white male with long hair, wearing a hooded sweatshirt. He entered through an unlocked door, police said.BRITISH COLUMBIA ABSOLUTE SOFTWARE POLLS CUSTOMERS ABOUT ATTITUDE TOWARDS COMPUTER AND DATA SECURITY CNW Group | ABSOLUTE SOFTWARE CORPORATION | Survey Says 62 Percent of Companies Believe Missing Computers Go Unnoticed; Consumers Fear Identity Theft:
Survey Says 62 Percent of Companies Believe Missing Computers Go Unnoticed; Consumers Fear Identity Theft
Absolute Software Surveys Corporate and Consumer Customers
VANCOUVER, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - Absolute(R) Software Corporation ("Absolute"
or the "Company") (TSX: ABT), the leading provider of Firmware-based, patented
Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM)
solutions recently polled its customers about their attitudes toward computer
and data security. Absolute surveyed two groups: corporate customers of
Absolute's Computrace(R) solutions and customers that had purchased
Computrace(R) LoJack(R) for Laptops, Absolute's computer tracking and recovery
solution for consumers.
"Consumers, as well as corporations, need to have a multi-layered
approach to computer and data security," says John Livingston, chairman and
CEO of Absolute Software. "Most of us store personal information, banking
records, credit card information, passwords and other sensitive data that
could be used to harm us if it falls into the wrong hands. For businesses, a
lost or stolen computer can lead to the intense media scrutiny associated with
a data breach. Consumers who experience the loss of a computer may be at
increased risk for identity theft and often lose irreplaceable photos, records
and music collections."
Absolute's survey of its consumer customers had 1842 qualified
respondents while 402 companies responded to the corporate survey. A summary
of each can be found below. For additional results from both surveys, please
visit:
http://www.absolute.com/resources/computer-theft-statistics-complete-survey.as
p
Corporations Fear Data Breach: Corporate Survey Highlights:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Corporations should be fearful of a data breach. By their own estimates,
16% believe a significant breach can cost $1 million dollars or more, 20%
believe it can cost close to $100,000 and 22% believe it will cost nearly
$10,000. More than half of companies (62%) surveyed believe that historically,
computers have been lost or stolen that no one is even aware of.
Corporate customers leverage Computrace to recover missing computers
(82%) and deter theft (73%). In addition, 8 out of 10 (83%) companies said
they are better able to manage their computer assets with Computrace.
One in five (20%) companies reported experiencing a data breach in the
past and believe that the majority (61%) of data breaches are perpetrated by
internal employees. However, one in five (20%) also believe that sensitive
data has been breached that no one in the company is aware of. What kind of
data is being exposed? 39% have had confidential business information lost,
22% have had employee information breached, 22% have had customer information
misplaced and 16% have had Social Security numbers stolen.
Consumers are Concerned About Identity Theft: Consumer Survey Highlights:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Absolute's consumer survey found that one in five (20%) people knew of a
friend, family member or co-worker that had their computer lost or stolen.
Approximately one in 10 (8%) reported having their own personal or work
computer lost or stolen.
The majority (62%) of consumers had spent between $1000-$2000 on their
computer. One-fourth (25%) spent between $2000-$3000 and approximately one in
10 (7%) spent more than $3000. Although the vast majority (84%) of consumers
purchased Computrace LoJack for Laptops to recover their computer if it is
lost or stolen, one-fourth (25%) made the purchase to prevent identity theft.
Consumers are concerned about more than the cost of the hardware when a
computer is lost or stolen. Their top four concerns (in order of diminishing
importance) are losing their computer, having someone steal their identity,
losing files/data and having unauthorized persons access their files.
Consumers are taking steps to protect themselves but lag behind
corporations in their approach to computer security. Although all the
participants in this study are currently using asset tracking and recovery
solutions from Absolute Software, many are not implementing the most basic
forms of protection; 7% are not using anti-virus software; 16% do not have a
firewall; 46% are not backing up their data; 69% are not password-protecting
files; 72% do not use any form of cable lock to prevent theft; and more than
80% do not use any type of encryption or authentication software.
99% percent of consumer customers would recommend LoJack for Laptops to a
friend.
How Computrace Works
When a Computrace-equipped computer is reported stolen, the embedded
Computrace agent sends a silent signal to Absolute's Monitoring Center
providing critical location information. Absolute then works with local law
enforcement to recover the computer, and, if necessary, assists with search
warrant applications and subpoenas to ISP's. The stealthy Computrace software
agent can survive accidental or deliberate attempts at removal or disablement.
With embedded support in the BIOS(1) firmware of a computer, the Computrace
agent is capable of surviving operating system re-installations, as well as
hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging.
<< (1) For a complete list of BIOS-supported computers please visit www.absolute.com/BIOS.
>>
About Absolute Software
Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the leader in Computer Theft
Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM) solutions. Absolute
Software provides organizations and consumers with solutions in the areas of
regulatory compliance, data protection and theft recovery. The Company's
Computrace(R) software is embedded in the BIOS of computers by global leaders,
including Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Motion, Panasonic and Toshiba,
and the Company has reselling partnerships with these OEMs and others,
including Apple. For more information about Absolute Software and Computrace,
visit www.absolute.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other
things, the expected performance of our services and products, possible
guarantee payment eligibility, and other expectations, intentions and plans
contained in this press release that are not historical fact. When used in
this press release, the words "plan," "expect," "believe," and similar
expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements
reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and
general market conditions. In light of the many risks and uncertainties you
should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking
statements contained in this press release will be realized.
(C)2007 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Computrace
and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation.
Computrace U.S. patents No. 5,715,174, No. 5,764,892, No. 5,802,280,
No. 5,896,497, No. 6,244,758, No. 6,269,392, No. 6,300,863, and
No. 6,507,914. Canadian patents No. 2,284,806 and No. 2,205,370. U.K.
patents No. EP793823 and No. GB2338101. German patent No. 695 125 34.6-
08. Australian patent No. 699045. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither
approved nor disapproved of the information contained in this news
release.
For further information: Public Relations: Leslie Campisi, Affect
Strategies, leslie@affectstrategies.com or (212) 398-9680 x144; Investor
Relations: Dave Mason, CFA, The Equicom Group, dmason@equicomgroup.com or
(416) 815-0700 x237