18 July 2008

Peculiar break in at IP Australia

| Skidbladnir
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The photo is of the day-after, as I walked through Woden a different way yesterday morning.

I saw the repaired hole with the insulation batt outside it, and went in to ask one of the people I know at IP Australia what the story behind that was.

According to them, yesterday (Thursday 17 July) at some point overnight someone lifted out the exterior glass panel, removed the batt, and then smashed their way through the interior panel to get inside.

Behind that window is their Human Resources and Personnel wing, which is normally only accessed by security pass if you have a need to get into that area.

(A former employee’s experience of the building suggests that the normal security passes let you in to everywhere in the building except HR&P)

Internal gossip says that two computers were stolen, and some desks were rifled through.

The rest of the entire ground floor has similar windows and internal panelling (have a look next time you drive past IP Australia along Launceston St), so it’s a fair vulnerability to have on a building which receives an extraordinary amount of confidential commercial data (Trademarks are valuable to businesses, but registered Patents and Designs are moreso).

So why:

1) break into HR&Personnel, and
2) Why didn’t Security notice this was happening and try to prevent it? (This window is just outside the view of the Security desk, and the interior of that window is seperated from the Foyer by only one or two walls.)

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How do you know there was cash?

Maybe an inside job and for some unknown reason there was some cash kept on premises and that’s the reason they arranged a break in to get the cash. Cant think of anything else.

I’d dare say that like the other 90% of public service buildings that the security guards would work standard 9-5ish working hours. After work hours it would be a bonanza for all. By the looks of it some planning obviously went into it, either picked the wrong window or were after something specific.

But why risk it? just infront of the security desk? I can think of much easier targets.

I used to work at IP. All the valuable stuff (particularly patent applications) is in the basement, although to find what you want you’d need the file number. Sounds like a random junkie break-in to me.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

I’d be surprised if anyone would genuinely go to that much trouble over some HR records – there are easier ways to get hold of that kind of information if you really want it.

maybe they were after patents, and missed?

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy4:09 pm 18 Jul 08

I’d be surprised if anyone would genuinely go to that much trouble over some HR records – there are easier ways to get hold of that kind of information if you really want it.

@S4anta – Junkeez™ more appropriately.

junkies. nothing more.

tylersmayhem said :

Nothing like that would stop Condorman, man!

he’s a bit old now….

tylersmayhem3:14 pm 18 Jul 08

Nothing like that would stop Condorman, man!

tylersmayhem said :

My bets it was Krokov! I heard that 3 black Porsches were seen speeding from the scene – 1 with a spinning radar on the top. A report also mentioned something about one of the perpetrators having a silver eye?! Go figure. I’m waiting for the showdown on Lake Burley Griffin featuring powerboats and laser cannons.

they’d get arrested for noise restrictions you know, and no license to operate a powerboat on LBG…

I didnt think the Public servive used “Windows Access” anymore. bad joke i know.

Pirates !

tylersmayhem1:59 pm 18 Jul 08

My bets it was Krokov! I heard that 3 black Porsches were seen speeding from the scene – 1 with a spinning radar on the top. A report also mentioned something about one of the perpetrators having a silver eye?! Go figure. I’m waiting for the showdown on Lake Burley Griffin featuring powerboats and laser cannons.

Breaking into HR makes you wonder what they’re digging for….

And if HR has un-encrypted data on their own hard drives…

more likely just a quick break in for the computers?

Then again what’s an old public service machine worth? $400?

Hardly seems worth it.

Odd…

i remember Condorman, loved the car. i bet it was an inside job, otherwise how would they know where to look? The night time guards are only there until about ten at night, but they do have access to everything.

tylersmayhem said :

Industrial espionage here we come. Better call Condorman!

and I had just realised how old you are. Condorman indeed. many of the younger reader will have no clue what you are on about.

tylersmayhem12:57 pm 18 Jul 08

Industrial espionage here we come. Better call Condorman!

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