Burglars stole a computer hard drive containing the unencrypted confidential information of all 3,500 Modesto City, Calif. school workers from a data processing firm in Fullerton.

What kind of personal information? Names, Social Security numbers, address and birth dates.

What happened? The thieves stole the hard drive by breaking a window at Systematic Automation Inc., a company charged with printing benefits information for the school employees.

Details: School district officials said the data was encrypted when it was transferred to the contractor, but was later unencrypted for download by the vendor.

What was the response? The district wants employees to monitor their credit and notify the major credit reporting agencies.

Source: KCRA.com, “ID Breach Affects 3,500 School Employees,” Feb. 11.