Stolen California Laptops Had Info on 729,000 Patients

A Southern California hospital chain is urging patients to check their credit reports after thieves stole two laptop computers containing Social Security numbers and other information on more than 700,000 patients.

The Los Angeles Times says the laptops were stolen on Oct. 12 from a sixth-floor office at an administration center in Alhambra. Video captured the break-in but the crooks haven’t been caught.

The laptops contained names, insurance and Medicare ID numbers and other information on patients of six AHMC hospitals in Alhambra, Anaheim, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South El Monte and Whittier.

Hospital officials say the computers were password-protected and there’s no evidence the information was accessed but they suggest patients may want to place alerts on their credit files and check them for fraud.