Up to 168,500 patients may have had their data stolen after a break-in at a Los Angeles County medical contractor’s office last month, police said on Thursday.
Eight computers and two monitors were stolen during the Feb. 5 break-in at the Torrance office of Sutherland Healthcare Solutions, said Sgt. Robert Watt, of the Torrance Police Department.
Police are working with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and the United States Secret Service to find the source of the breach.
The office handles billing and collections for the county’s Department of Health Services.
Information on the computers included patients’ names, medical and billing information and Social Security numbers, police said.
The county was notified of the breach on Feb. 10, and it was unclear how many patients were affected by the break-in.
A toll free line will be available beginning Friday for any customers wanting to find out if they have been affected. The number is (877) 868-9284, according to the report.
