KEWASKUM -- Criminals may have stolen thousands of people's sensitive information from a hacked computer inside the Kewaskum Police Department.
In a village with a population of just 4,000 Kewaskum Police Chief Thomas Bishop mailed 2,720 letters to potential victims. Most of the potential victims are from Colorado and the Chicagoland area.
"The main question is they've never been to Kewaskum, how is their information in our data base? And that's where the confusion seems to be," said Bishop.
The letter sent to potential victims warns of a computer breach inside their small police station. Personal information including date of birth, drivers license and social security numbers may have been stolen.
This all came to light in August, when Bishop opened an outrageously high bill from a database they subscribe to for investigations.
"If we need to locate people, addresses, phone numbers it contains personal identifying information," said Bishop.
Agents with the Department of Justice found the exact computer hacked into was in the station's room for investigators.
Some victims question why it took nearly five months to be notified. The chief explains it's because the Department of Justice did not want this investigation to be tainted.
Bishop says they also sent letters to each of the three major credit agencies to make sure they are aware of this breach to protect all of the potential victims. They have also beefed up their police station's internet security.
