WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- Grocery retailer Royal Ahold NV has told former and retired U.S. employees a company computer with sensitive personal information has been stolen.
Royal Ahold said the names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and pension details of an unknown number of ex-workers had been stored on the laptop, a report says.
The Netherlands-based Royal Ahold operates Giant Food, Stop & Shop, Tops and other chains in the United States and Europe.
The Washington Post reports an employee was forced to check the laptop on a May 2 flight because the overhead bins were full.
Company officials said this was a violation of company policy and the employee was "disciplined."
Barry F. Scher, vice president of communications, said the laptop is being considered stolen but the incident currently is being treated as a security breach, not identity theft.
A password is needed to get into the laptop but the sensitive data files were not encrypted or protected.
A toll-free number for the ex-employees has been set up. They were notified a week and a half ago.
Royal Ahold said it would monitor credit reports for up to a year to protect against identity theft.
