CALGARY—A laptop containing the personal information of up to 40,000 United Conservative Party members in Calgary was stolen out of a staff member’s personal vehicle on Monday, according to a party memo.

No financial information on any of the UCP members was on the password-protected laptop, according to the memo distributed to party members and obtained by StarMetro.

But it is believed to have held a combination of members’ names, email addresses, phone numbers, or mailing addresses. Donation amounts may have also been on the laptop, the memo said, although this information is normally disclosed to Elections Alberta and is publicly available.

The UCP memo said party staff reported the theft to the Calgary Police Service immediately and informed the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC). Calgary police don’t believe the theft was targeted, according to the UCP. In response, the party is also now prohibiting its staff from storing laptops with party information in their personal vehicles.

“While still deplorable, this appears to have been a random crime that is unfortunately part of our society,” the memo reads.

The exact number of party members whose personal information was on the laptop is unclear.

The party said it will continue to update its members about the situation as information becomes available, and intends to fully co-operate with CPS and the OIPC. Anyone who feels their personal information has been used in an unauthorized manner due to the possible breach is asked to contact the UCP.

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