Oct. 7--CHARLESTON, W.Va.- More than 500 state employees are being told that a laptop computer containing their personnel information, including Social Security numbers, was stolen last week, state officials confirmed Monday.

The stolen laptop contains information for 425 employees with the state Insurance Commission, as well as 110 employees in the Bureau of Medical Services and Child Support Enforcement Division of the Department of Health and Human Resources.

Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley said the department began sending out letters of notification on Friday as a precaution, after a subcontractor conducting an independent audit of the agencies reported the laptop as stolen.

"We try to encourage people to make every attempt to protect their information, including using fraud alert services," she said.

The laptop, belonging to an employee of the accounting firm Suttle and Stalnaker, was stolen from the employee's vehicle while it was parked in a downtown Charleston parking lot.

Under the law, independent audits are required of all state agencies receiving $500,000 or more of federal funds, Holley said.

The computer contains payroll and benefits information for the employees, and includes either full names or first names and Social Security numbers for the 535 employees. However, Holley said the state has been assured that all information on the computer is password-protected.

"It is our protocol to send out notification, even through we feel the information has not been compromised," she said.

Jason Butcher, with the state Insurance Commission, said police reports indicated that the laptop had been left on the car seat visible to passersby, and appears to be a crime of opportunity.

"It doesn't appear they were after the laptop because of the information it contained," he said of the theft.

Holley added, "We take any breach of security very seriously and place priority in protecting all confidential data maintained by state government or any contractor which we utilize."

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