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Police recover electronics with possible link to UVic data theft

"We're not 100 per cent sure there's an association (between the found items and what was taken from UVic)," said Sgt. Dean Jantzen.

A number of personal electronics – possibly those stolen during a high-profile theft from the University of Victoria – were recovered late last week by Saanich police.

Police aren't saying much about what was found, or even where the items were located, but the items are consistent with what was taken during a robbery on Jan. 7 or 8 at the Administrative Services Building.

"We're not 100 per cent sure there's an association (between the found items and what was taken from UVic)," said Sgt. Dean Jantzen.

Investigators are now looking to track down serial numbers to help make that determination.

Among the items taken in the robbery was an electronic storage device that contained the social insurance numbers and banking information for 11,841 past and current employees.

Since then, police have received four complaints of fraudulent banking activity – though investigators have doubts about whether three of those are related to the UVic theft, Jantzen said.

Meanwhile, UVic president David Turpin announced late last week that the province's former Information and Privacy Commissioner, David Flaherty, will conduct an external review into how personal information is secured on campus.

“The review will address the events leading up to the privacy breach and the university’s response. It will also examine the university’s plans and measures to protect sensitive personal information and make appropriate recommendations,” Turpin said.

Flaherty's review is expected to take four months.

The school is still awaiting details for its employees on how to sign up for one year of free credit monitoring services. Once finalized, that information will be provided to all individuals affected by the data breach.

kslavin@saanichnews.com