KEY POINTS:
Urgent action was taken to stop thieves getting into databases using equipment stolen from a business which managed properties for Blue Chip clients, says Jeff Meltzer, the liquidator of 19 companies associated with Blue Chip.
Burglars hit the business Short Stay Apartments on Beach Rd in Parnell at
9pm on February 9.
But Meltzer said if they hoped to get information from those laptops, they were disappointed because they were thwarted by the swift actions of an IT specialist. "The couple of laptops had remote access into the system but within two hours, they were closed down.
"As soon as the IT manager discovered it, he disconnected remote access," Meltzer said yesterday.
This stopped the thieves accessing the larger database or getting any details of monetary transactions, property addresses or client information or other sensitive commercial information.
Meltzer said he believed opportunists were responsible.
"It looks as though they took 20 minutes to break into the safe so they were not professionals," he said.
Video cameras caught footage of the break-in and a complaint was laid with the police.
But Meltzer was surprised that the burglars missed an even bigger opportunity - the chance to get direct access into the many inner-city units which Short Stay Apartments was managing on behalf of Blue Chip clients.
"All the keys to apartments were sitting on the table and none of those were taken," Meltzer said.
"A manila folder was taken from the safe but there were no cash or valuables there."
He could not say what was in the folder.
About 4000 investors bought more than 2000 properties from Blue Chip and its associates. Blue Chip Financial Solutions, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, was suspended this month and can remain suspended indefinitely, a spokesman at the exchange in Sydney said.
There is no time limit on suspension but companies were required to fulfil their obligations on periodic disclosure requirements, he said.
The shares were trading at A0.9c when trading ceased on February 14 at the company's request, pending an announcement which has not yet been made.
The Commerce Commission and Serious Fraud Office have received complaints about Blue Chip and are investigating.
Meltzer refused to say if New Zealand investors would get any money.
He said his focus was now on preparing initial reports into the 19 companies.
Expensive Remuera houses, luxury cars and boats which featured in media coverage on Sunday as being owned by Blue Chip executives was not of immediate interest to him.
"Not unless you can prove they are assets of the companies," he said.
He is about to announce where the creditors' meeting will be held next month but said a venue for more than 1000 people was needed and the Ellerslie Racecourse was the most likely place.
Investors in Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill will soon be told which venue was to be booked for them so they could take part.
BLUE CHIP ACTION
* Next Friday: Initial report on 19 companies in liquidation.
* March 28: Creditors' meeting at a large Auckland venue.
* Live video link-ups planned throughout New Zealand.
* Many months later: Final amount available declared.