Personal information of 70 people stolen from tax office

New Bern police say a computer stolen from a tax-preparation business in the city this week contains identity information of about 70 people.

The computer was stolen from B.J. Accessories and Tax Preparation on Neuse Boulevard. The business shares a building with Platinum Angel Hair Design on the 3000th block of the street.

An officer found the front glass door of the hair salon shattered Thursday morning. The owner of the salon said nothing was missing from that business.

Police are still investigating the theft, and had no suspects as of Friday night.

The owner of the tax-preparation business has been told to notify clients about a possible breech of their personal information.

"Anyone who believes their personal information has been stolen should immediately notify police in the jurisdiction where the theft occurred," said police spokeswoman Beth Stevenson. "They should also place a fraud alert with any of the three major credit-reporting agencies."

Those credit-reporting agencies are Equifax, Experion and TransUnion.

Victims should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, she said.

The following Web sites provide more information about identity theft and fraud:

www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.

www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ (on-line complaint form).

www.fdic.gov/consumers/theft/index.html.