MICHIGAN COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGEThieves lift laptops, maybe IDsThieves lift laptops, maybe IDs
Saturday, November 20, 2004
By Kyla King
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Three laptop computers stolen from Grand Rapids Community College's finance department contained employees' direct-deposit information, and possibly students' Social Security numbers -- a treasure trove for identity theft or bank fraud in the wrong hands, a consumer advocate says.

"That's about a gold mine for an identity-theft thief, I hate to say," said Megan Owens, a consumer advocate for the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan. "Many credit cards are given out with just a name and Social Security number, even if the address is wrong and the birthday doesn't match."

In addition to staff payroll information, GRCC officials fear the recently stolen computers also contained tax reporting data that included students' names, addresses and Social Security numbers.

Now the college is scrambling to do damage control. On Friday, it sent letters and e-mails alerting 1,100 employees and 13,000 students to the potential risk, said Bob Partridge, executive vice president of business and finance.

"We sent out the letters because we're not exactly sure what was in the file," he said. "Our normal course of business is to delete that kind of information from the laptops after being done with it, but again, we're not positive."

Students at risk include anyone who took classes anytime since January. The concern exists that even deleted information could be retrieved by hackers sophisticated enough to get past passwords.

The news angered some students.

"I didn't come to college to have my identity stolen. I'm already in debt," Joshua Bouman, 25, said during a cigarette break between classes. "I'm irate. That stuff should be protected. It should be under lock and key."

Details were sketchy, but campus police Chief Cindy Kennell said thieves made off with three IBM laptop computers used in the Financial Services Department sometime Wednesday night.

One computer was reported missing that evening by an employee who stopped into the office to pick up some paperwork. Other employees reported two more missing laptops to police the next morning, Kennell said.

It is unclear whether the thieves broke into the office or had a key. Police are reviewing campus security measures.

"There are lots of rumors," Kennell said. "We're working some leads but we're always hoping somebody will come forward."

Bouman, a Grand Rapids resident who is studying natural resource management, worried that publicizing the theft might do more harm than good.

"It might give (the thieves) some ideas," Bouman said.

Kennell said the college had an obligation to inform their employees and students.

"That's just a risk you have to take so at least people know and they are one step ahead," she said. "It's very possible that this information isn't going to surface anywhere."

Partridge said the college has notified local banks and determined most of the employee deposits go to the Lake Michigan Credit Union.

"The amount of data that was potentially released is less than you'd find on your personal check," Partridge said. "Frankly, from the credit union's perspective, there's little possibility of damage here but they're still taking precautions."

After learning of the thefts from a reporter, accounting major Elvira Perezic of Grand Rapids said she immediately planned to call and get an alert so any new accounts opened in her name would be flagged.

"That's kind of scary that they have your information," said 24-year-old Perezic, who checks her credit report every six months. "That's just one more thing to worry about."