Identity Theft and Laptop Theft
By Security Officer Gordon Simle
Laptop thefts have grown in alarming numbers. Colleges and Universities are
target rich environments due to the prevalence of laptops in the school/work
environment. You have often heard people refer to the “downturn in the economy”
as a reason for the increase in theft. This may be so. The realization that
the theft of a laptop would result in a quick turnaround for cash was
inevitable.
Laptops and our PC’s as well, are an integral part of our lives today. The ability to retrieve, process, and store information at our fingertips in this fast paced world is vital. But, are we storing information on our laptops that could lead to Identity Theft
Recently while speaking with a UW staff member about laptop thefts, I was reminded of something we all are probably guilty of, and that is storing personal information on our computers. What a convenience it is to put all of our passwords, account information, maybe even our social security numbers in a Word document, to access anytime we pay bills, or order something online. Unfortunately, when our computer is stolen, so is all of that personal information.
Statistics show that a victim of Identity theft spends 600 hours over several years, and $1,400 in personal expenses trying to recover their credit. It can impact your credit for 10 years or more.
The UW-Madison Police Department will continue to monitor trends, and develop ways to educate the public on better ways to protect themselves. We encourage you to secure your laptops and personal computing devices and never leave them unattended. It only takes a moment for someone to walk away with your identity.
