Updated at 4:32 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, 2007
O'ahu public school parents warned of ID theft threat
Advertiser Staff
The state Department of Education is warning the parents of students attending 18 public schools on O'ahu of a potential identity theft situation.Bank deposit bags were stolen from a van operated by Security Armored Car and Courier Service of Hawai'i on March 6. The van was broken into in the parking lot of the McDonald's restaurant in Hale'iwa while the driver was taking a break, DOE officials said.
Approximately $25,000 in uncashed checks and cash was stolen.
Since the deposit bags contained checks that listed personal information, the schools are notifying affected individuals and advising them to call one of three nationwide consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on their credit reports.
The initial alert, which lasts 90 days, prevents anyone from opening a new credit account in their name.
Schools affected by the theft were:
Hale Kula Elementary,
Hale'iwa Elementary,
Helemano Elementary,
'Iliahi Elementary,
Ka'ala Elementary,
Kanoelani Elementary,
Kipapa Elementary,
Mililani 'Ike Elementary,
Mililani Mauka Elementary,
Mililani Middle,
Mililani Uka Elementary,
Mililani Waena Elementary,
Red Hill Elementary,
Solomon Elementary,
Wahiawa Elementary,
Wahiawa Middle,
Waialua Elementary
and Waialua High and Intermediate.
The schools retained detailed deposit records and were given receipts from the courier service, which is responsible for covering the losses, DOE officials said.
