$100k of computer equipment stolen from Football Association
THE build-up to England's crucial World Cup qualifier against Germany in Munich on Saturday began in the strangest of circumstances with the theft of GBP 50,000 worth of computer equipment from the Football Association's heavily-guarded headquarters in Soho Square, central London. Police are investigating the burglary, which was discovered in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The thieves had broken in through the roof terrace on the seventh floor, where the FA held its summer party, and ransacked the floor below where the marketing department is based. The main targets were the chips installed in the 20 state-of-the-art computers that have a lucrative and relatively easy re-sale value. The thieves also stole computer hardware from the fifth floor, including executive director David Davies's laptop, as well as electronic equipment on the fourth floor where coach Sven Goran Eriksson and his management team have their offices....
Copyright 2001 Associated Newspapers Ltd.
DAILY MAIL (London)
August 29, 2001
HEADLINE: FA SUFFERS BREACH OF SECURITY IN RAID ON COMPUTERS
BYLINE: CHARLES SALE
It is believed the raiders were after the computer valuables themselves rather than any information contained within them.
Despite the Germany match coming up at the weekend, detectives from West End Central CID have already ruled out any foot-ball-related reasons for the theft.
And although sensitive material involving big sponsorship deals and Wembley national stadium affairs were contained in the tampered computers, the FA has all the information stored on their mainframe back-up system.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'The break-in at the FA is being treated no differently to similar computer thefts in the area.'
But the FA, which patrols its expensively-rented offices so zealously that Premier League chairman David Richards was refused entry on one occasion because he did not not have the necessary pass, will be dismayed that the security has been breached via the rooftop so easily.