The University is sending letters to approximately 5,500 individuals whose information may have been stored on a University-owned laptop which was recently stolen, according to LSU Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard. 
Ballard said when the University learned of the theft they contacted local law enforcement and began an investigation, which included analyzing the data that may have been stored on the laptop. The investigation determined around 5,500 individuals information, including full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers, may have been stored on the laptop. A very small number of individuals credit card information may have also been stored on the laptop. 
Ballard said there is no indication that any information has been accessed or misused, but the University will be providing a free one-year membership to Experian’s IdentityWorks to the individuals who have been affected, to help detect fraud or identity theft. 
Those individuals who have been affected will be receiving letters from the University next week.
As a result of the theft, the University will be moving to encrypt all university-owned mobile devices and will be re-enforcing their policies on protecting devices containing sensitive information.