Office break-ins in the Fraser Valley: stolen files and computers

The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia published a member notice on 15 September 2026 after three office break-ins in about three weeks. In each case, files and office computers were stolen. The Society placed the incidents in the Surrey and Fraser Valley area and asked members in every region to review office security. It said it was not aware of evidence that the incidents are connected.

What happened

This is a physical crime with a digital follow-on. A stolen computer can hold client files, saved passwords, and open sessions for email or practice software. A stolen paper file can hold identity documents. The Society’s notice is for notary members. The same pattern matters for other professional offices that keep client records on desks and PCs.

Why it matters

If the device was not encrypted, whoever has the laptop may be able to read what is on the disk. If staff stay signed in to email or banking after hours, a thief may also reach those accounts. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security notes that a lost or stolen laptop can mean a complete loss of data that was not backed up, and that encryption on portable devices stops others reading the files even when the hardware is gone.

What to do now

• Lock doors and file storage when the office is empty. Do not leave laptops or external drives where they can be seen from a window.
• Use a sign-in lock on every PC and, where the device allows it, full-disk encryption.
• Keep an automated backup away from the office computers, and check that you can restore it.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication for email, banking and the systems you use to run the practice.
• Keep a simple inventory of office computers (make, model, serial number) for police and insurers.

If an office is broken into: call police, change passwords from a device that was not stolen, and ask your IT provider to cut remote access from the missing hardware. If client personal information was on the stolen files or devices, you may have privacy notice duties under British Columbia law. SNPBC members should also follow the Society’s own notice, including contacting the Society when client files, records or a notary seal are missing.

How Techloom can help

Techloom can help you check encryption, backups, Microsoft 365 sign-in and what to do if a device is stolen, as a security assessment or through managed IT support. We do not investigate break-ins and we do not replace police or insurer reporting.

Sources

MEMBER NOTICE: Recent Break-Ins at Member Offices, Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, 15 September 2026. Tips for backing up your information (ITSAP.40.002), Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. Secure portable media, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.