Wellpoint reports stolen laptops

Police investigators are looking into a rash of laptop computer thefts from the Camarillo offices of healthcare provider Wellpoint.

Between Fri., March 23 and Mon., March 26 four laptop computers were stolen from the desks of workers at Wellpoint's three local offices, according to police reports.

In January another laptop computer was reported stolen from Wellpoint, according to authorities, and in the past few months four additional laptops were stolen from a local division of Verizon that shares office space with the healthcare company.

The thefts total about $10,000 in stolen property, police said.

"The good news is . . . they didn't contain any client or member information on them, and, even if they did, it would have all been encrypted," said Peggy Hinz, a spokesperson with Bluecross California, a subsidiary of Wellpoint.

Detective Mario Aguilar of the Ventura County Sheriff's department said most of the thefts took place after hours and were probably committed by someone who had access to the secured office buildings.

"It could be a night crew, it could be a cleaning crew," Aguilar said. "It's got to be somebody who has access to the building." He said similar thefts were reported last year.

Wellpoint also reported the loss in recent months of various computer components, including a wireless Internet card and a laptop docking station.

Hinz said the company has warned employees not to leave their laptops unsecured at night and to either take the computers home or use desktop cable locks to help safeguard the computers.

Indianapolis-based Wellpoint employs more than 1,400 workers in Camarillo and more than 3,700 countywide.

- Daniel Wolowicz