WISCONSIN COMPUTERS STOLEN $500K of data taken in theft | sheboyganpress.com | Sheboygan Press:

$500K of data taken in theft

Sheboygan Press staff • April 7, 2009

A van and $500,000 worth of computer data were stolen over the weekend from a Town of Plymouth business, according to the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department.

Steven Lawrence, owner of SSL Industries, said he found a back door had been forced open with a crowbar when he stopped by late Sunday morning. Two computers — and their data backups — were gone, along with a company van and other equipment.

"We're a manufacturing company, so there's 10 years of AutoCAD drawings … and programs and stuff that runs the company," Lawrence said, adding that $500,000 is likely a conservative value estimate. "The (on-site) backups are gone; the one I had at home is the only one I have."

SSL Industries, N5580 Luey Lane, is a light manufacturer that fabricates equipment for the food and packaging industry. It employs five people.

Lawrence said the emergency backups should keep the company operating and insurance will cover the losses, which include the van, a die-cutting machine valued at $6,000 and a wire welder.

The van is a silver 2000 Ford with license plate 723-LXH.

"They took that, which is kind of (gutsy) since you've got your name on the van," Lawrence said