Laptop theft: MOD lost 188 laptops in 18 months

25 November 2011

A staggering 188 laptops have been reported lost or stolen from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) over the past 18 months.

Since the Coalition came to power, 99 desktop computers, 18 mobile phones and ten Blackberry devices have also gone missing. In one case of laptop theft, 21 laptops were stolen during a single incident in Germany.

In total, 287 computers were lost or stolen over this period, and only 20 lost laptops have been recovered, according to official figures. Other items, including cameras, radios and 3G cards, have also been reported missing since the Coalition took office.

Defense Secretary Andrew Robathan said that the MOD has “robust procedures’” in place to prevent laptop theft and laptop loss.

Physical IT security expert, LapSafe® Products, is concerned that laptop theft within the public sector appears to be a growing problem. Laptop and mobile IT security does not have to be costly or time consuming, and those in the public sector must take steps to safeguard their IT from theft to protect sensitive data and equipment budgets.

For more information about how to prevent laptop theft within the public sector, click here to read our white paper, The Politics of IT Security: Laptop Theft in the Public Sector.

Source: Daily Mail

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