DOE workers alerted
to theft of data

Damage is being traced
from seven stolen computers

Department of Education officials are assessing what business and personnel information might have been on seven computers discovered stolen from a business office on Memorial Day.

Some current and former employees could be affected, said spokeswoman Sandy Goya. Those individuals will be notified by letter as that information comes to light.

"No bank deposit, payroll deduction or other fiscal information was compromised," Goya said, since all the Department of Education payroll is done through the state Department of Accounting and General Services. However, the computers did contain personal data of employees and former employees.

Some employees discovered the burglary when they went to work Monday morning and found a broken window.

The Office of Business Services is located in the basement of the Queen Liliuokalani Building, 1390 Miller St.

"We want our current and former employees to know that we are taking proactive measures to address this incident," Goya said.

The Department of Education will install security screens and intrusion alarms, enhancing its surveillance system.

The letter, which will go out as the department confirms which current and former employees have been affected, urges individuals to call any of three nationwide consumer reporting companies to place an initial fraud alert on their credit reports.

"This alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name," it says.

It also asks the recipient to be vigilant in reviewing statements for unusual financial transactions and to follow up with creditors if bills do not arrive on time.