"Police ask for public's help in solving theft

by Sarah Elizabeth Brown

Whitehorse RCMP are turning to the public for help in solving a computer theft from the territory's probation office.

In particular, police are asking for calls from anyone who saw vehicles or people in the alley between Jarvis Street and Wood Street behind the Yukon Theatre between 4 p.m. and midnight last Sunday.

Police are also asking that anyone who noted activity in front of the Justice department's offices at 301 Jarvis St. in that time period to call them or Crime Stoppers.

Taken during the theft was a shopping list of electronics: palm pilots, camcorders, overhead projects, miscellaneous computer accessories, several black Dell computers and several laptop computers of the same make.

Along with the cost of the equipment itself, the concern is what information was stored on the hard drives.

The office's main server where the bulk of information is kept are located outside the building.

Justice Minister Elaine Taylor told reporters this morning that department officials and police are still trying to determine what information was on the hard drives of computers and laptops now missing.

If personal information was taken, those individuals will be notified immediately, said Taylor.

Most of the stolen equipment was taken from the adult probation office on the second floor, along with the crime prevention and policing and assistant deputy minister's office, also on the second floor, a department spokeswoman explained today.

While a boardroom on the first floor was entered, victims' services and the family violence sections were untouched and secure on the first floor.

Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Whitehorse RCMP can be contacted at 667-5555."