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 News Release
Contacts:
Tom Jacobs
555 Wright Way
Carson City, NV 89711
Office: (775) 684-4779
Cellular: (775) 721-4062		 Kevin R. Malone
1399 American Pacific Dr.
Henderson, NV 89074
Office: (702) 486-1311
Cellular: (702) 499-4278

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  March 7, 2005
NEWS FROM: Field Services Division 

Note: This news release contains information that was initially thought to be accurate
but was later changed. See the DMV Director's Statement issued March 11, 2005.

Donovan DMV Burglarized

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office at 4110 Donovan Way in North Las Vegas was burglarized about 1:30 a.m.

A suspect or suspects, who remain at large, drove a vehicle through the building’s rear windows and employee entrance. The equipment used to issue driver’s licenses was taken, including the digital camera tower, its associated computer, the license printer, driver license blanks and laminate seals. Nothing else was taken. Without being connected to the department’s computer application, the equipment has limited use.

North Las Vegas police and the department’s Compliance Enforcement Division are investigating.

The office, which issues commercial driver’s licenses, motor carrier registrations and express renewals services, is open but unable to issue driver’s licenses at this time. The digital license vendor, Digimarc Corporation, will replace the equipment as soon as possible.

Damage to the building is currently being assessed and the Nevada State Buildings and Grounds Division has yet to release a formal damage estimate. The Department of Motor Vehicles will post 24-hour security until repairs are completed.

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The following is the content of a special web page posted to inform the public of the details of the incident.

Blue Dot  Updates - June 2005

  

The equipment and holographic laminate materials taken in the March 7th Donovan office break-in were recovered on June 1st. The U.S. Secret Service examined the equipment and determined that the personal information on the stolen computer had not been accessed or compromised.

News Releases | June 2 - Equipment Recovered | June 5 - Information Not Compromised

Blue Dot  Who is Affected

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A computer stolen from the DMV branch office at 4110 Donovan Way in North Las Vegas on March 7, 2005, contained the personal information of approximately 8,700 Nevada residents. The affected residents are those who received an actual license, instruction permit or identification card at the Donovan office between November 25, 2004, and March 4, 2005.

No other DMV customers were affected. If you received a license at a different DMV branch, your information was not at risk. The equipment taken from the Donovan office could not have been used to access any other DMV records.

Customers who only changed information without obtaining a new physical license were not affected.

Blue Dot  DMV Response

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The Department sent certified letters and new licenses or ID cards to those affected. The new licenses contained new driver license numbers. After receiving the new license, the driver's old record was cancelled and the new record put into force.

The department has reconfigured the driver license system to ensure that all personal data is removed from the computers in the field offices after the close of business each day.

We notified all 50 state DMVs through the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and continue to work with the North Las Vegas Police Department and U.S. Secret Service to help solve this crime. 

If you have any information on the theft, please call the North Las Vegas Police Department at (702) 633-9111 or report a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555.

Blue Dot  Your Personal Credit Report

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The DMV, with the cooperation of the U.S. Secret Service, arranged for a seven-year possible fraud alert to be attached to the records at the three major credit-reporting agencies. These alerts were place on the credit records of all 8,700 affected customers.

A fraud alert notifies potential credit grantors of the need to verify your identification before extending credit in your name, in case someone is using your information without your consent. You will receive a letter from the agencies notifying you of this action.

Should you wish to remove this alert, you will have to contact each of the credit-reporting agencies and request that the alert be lifted. Below are the addresses of the three agencies. By clicking on the name, you will be able to download a form letter you can use to lift the alert.

Credit Reporting Agencies
TransUnion
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790		 Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374		 Experian
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013

Blue Dot  ID Theft Information

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There are several ways to spot whether you have become a victim of ID theft. Watch for signs that your information is being misused. For example, you may not get certain bills or other mail on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has changed your billing address. Other signs include:

  • receiving credit cards that you didn't apply for; 

  • being denied credit, or being offered less favorable credit terms, like a high interest rate, for no apparent reason; and 

  • getting calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you didn't buy. 

Read your financial statements promptly and carefully, and monitor your credit reports every few months. Nevada is among the first group of states where residents can receive their credit reports for free under new federal legislation. See Your Access to Free Credit Reports.

If you do become a victim of ID theft, the Federal Trade Commission has specific advice on Fighting Back Against Identity Theft.  See also the FTC ID Theft Home Page.