Glasgow council laptop stolen with bank details of thousands

An unencrypted laptop containing the names, addresses and bank details of thousands of people and businesses has been stolen from Glasgow City Council, it has been confirmed.

In total 37,835 suppliers and residents have been affected by the data loss, with more than 16,000 customers’ bank account details stored on the device, which was password protected.

The laptop was said to have been one of two stolen during a break-in at the council’s Cochrane Street offices between 28 and 29 May. But the full extent of the data loss was only realised on 6 June.

Glasgow City Council said in a statement that it had notified Strathclyde Police and the Information Commissioner’s Office, the latter holding the power to issue fines of up to £500,000 for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act.

A spokesman for the ICO confirmed they had been made aware of a “possible data breach”, adding that they would be “making enquiries into the circumstances of the alleged breach of the Data Protection Act before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken”.

The council apologised to people affected by the data loss and urged anyone with information to contact the police.