State Welfare Dept. computers stolen

HARRISBURG - Burglars stole two computers containing information, including Social Security numbers, on people who receive medical assistance benefits for treatment of mental health and substance-abuse problems, Pennsylvania state officials said yesterday.

The Department of Public Welfare has begun notifying about 375,000 people who receive behavioral health services and could potentially be affected, Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman said in a statement. The department is telling the consumers what they can do to avoid identify theft.

The information on the stolen computers was protected by multiple passwords, and most of it was coded and did not identify anyone by name, Richman said. Information for more than 1,800 consumers, however, included names and Social Security numbers. Officials discovered the burglary on Aug. 22 at a department office building. - AP