Defence laptops stolen from headquarters

By PAULA OLIVER

Burglars who broke into Defence Force headquarters over the weekend stole two laptops and four sets of car keys.

The embarrassing breach of security at the building, which also houses the Security Intelligence Service, resulted in intruders rifling through papers on desks including that of the Army's top officer.

Defence Minister Mark Burton last night said the stolen laptops did not contain any restricted or classified information.

His spokeswoman said the laptops were part of a general pool.

Mr Burton had been assured by the Army that it knew what information was on them, and that there "was nothing to worry about".

The fourth-floor break-in at the secure site in central Wellington's Stout St happened between 10.30pm on Friday and 12.30am on Saturday.

Defence Force security staff were alerted to the intruders but they fled. One theory is that the intruders used scaffolding to enter.

A window at the office of Army Chief of General Staff Major General Jerry Mateparae was broken. Scaffolding was being used outside as part of a project to waterproof the building's windows.

The Army's chiefs occupy the building's fourth floor. Air Force, Navy and Ministry of Defence staff, and Defence Force chief Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson occupy other floors.

Army staff took part in a stocktake to discover what was missing.

But the breach of security at a building that houses documents sensitive to the country's military operations has worried officials and analysts and prompted a review of security.

Access to Stout St is monitored. The public cannot enter the lift area without passing a security booth and being issued a pass. A different pass is needed for each floor.

Security cameras operate inside, and guards make regular sweeps.

Safes and vaults inside the building house the most sensitive information, and staff who have signed out a document at the beginning of the day must sign it back in by the end of the day.

One military analyst who asked not to be named said getting into the vaults and safes would require a well-planned operation using specialised equipment and a considerable amount of time.

It was more likely the theft had been an opportunistic attack, but it was an event that would "raise the eyebrows of our allies".

Others feared that unseen damage could have been done.

A former Army officer said: "You don't know what's been photographed, seen or copied. That's the real concern."

Mr Burton dismissed National Party claims that spies may have been involved in the raid.