NYPD may be victim of identity theft

NEW YORK, March 4 (UPI) -- Letters were being sent to thousands of officers of the New York Police Department Wednesday, warning them they may be victims of identity theft.

A civilian employee of the department's pension fund is accused of stealing eight tapes containing the Social Security numbers and direct-deposit information for 80,000 current and retired cops, the New York Post reports.

Anthony Bonelli, 46, who served as the pension fund's director of communications, has been charged with computer trespass, burglary and grand larceny.

He is accused of removing the tapes from a backup data warehouse on Staten Island after disabling security cameras.

Police found the missing tapes at his home before arresting him.