Quick Facts

• Date: 6/5/09
• Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Type of Incident: Theft
• Number Affected: 17,214 (SSNs), 22,500 (Test Scores)
• Source: OSF Data Loss DB
• Abstract Source: The Washington Post

Abstract
Virginia Commonwealth University began notifying thousands of students after the theft of a computer containing sensitive information. The computer, stolen in mid-April from the VCU library, contained the names and Social Security numbers of 17,214 students and the names, VCU ID numbers and test scores of an additional 22,500 students. VCU police believe the thief quickly got rid of the computer and the chance the information was accessed is small. However, VCU officials will begin notifying credit agencies and government offices concerning the theft. VCU is offering one year of free credit monitoring services to the 17,214 students whose Social Security numbers were on the stolen computer.