Insider theft at New York Police Dept. impacts 80,000 cops

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is telling thousands of police officers that their personal information may be compromised due to a suspected data theft done by an insider in the police pension fund, according to reports in New York’s daily newspapers today.

Anthony Bonelli, who had served as the pension fund’s director of communications, has been arrested for allegedly stealing computer tapes from a Staten Island warehouse that held personal data on 80,000 current and retired police officers, according to the New York Post and other sources.

Bonelli was not authorized to visit the data-storage site, but he managed to sneak in during February and walk out with tapes containing sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, bank account and direct-deposit information.

The NYPD sent letters to the police officers, warning them to watch for potential identity-theft attempts, according to reports.