A laptop computer containing the names and Social Security numbers of about 16,500 current and former employees of MCI Inc. was stolen last month, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
The computer was stolen from a car that was parked in the garage at the home of an MCI financial analyst in Colorado, the report said.
An MCI spokeswoman told the Journal that the laptop was password protected but declined to say whether the employee information was encrypted or whether the employee who was robbed was authorized to carry such information on a laptop.
The long-distance carrier said there was no indication so far that any information has been sold or used for identity theft. The company also said that it notified local law-enforcement immediately and has sent letters to all the people whose information was on the stolen computer.
MCI told the Journal it is investigating the incident and may take disciplinary action against the analyst if it turns out that company policies were violated.