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Placentia RCMP have recovered two computers stolen from an elementary school on the south coast, but one containing students' names, addresses and health plan numbers is still missing.
Police arrested two young males the day after the theft at Acreman Elementary in Green's Harbour was discovered on March 31. The two computers were recovered the same day, but police didn't release the information until a week later.
At Acreman Elementary, thieves broke through a window and locked doors to reach the computers, one of which served as the school's main server and held data — including names, addresses, phone numbers and medicare numbers — on 84 students.
The theft comes on the heels of a robbery at the Eastern School District offices in February, when three laptop computers with data on about 28,000 students were stolen.
The two cases have raised concerns that more needs to be done in Newfoundland and Labrador to protect student privacy, an advocate says.
Ruby Hoskins, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils, said the thefts are worrying.
"I think when we're talking about the safety and security of our students, it certainly has to be a priority for the department and all school districts in the province," she said.
In both cases, data was password-protected, although Hoskins said that offers little comfort.
"There's always people out there that can hack into any type of system, no matter how secure or what protocols are put in place. So I think it's a serious issue that has to be addressed," she said.
Peter Cross, a father of four students at Acreman Elementary, said he is uneasy that information about his children is in a stranger's hands.
"It really puts fear into me, because information like this can be taken and used for illicit purposes," he said.
The office of the province's privacy commissioner is still investigating the February incident.
RCMP are investigating the latest theft.
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