Missing computers? No big deal

Nevada taxpayers could be out thousands of dollars thanks to the theft of nearly 100 computers from a warehouse in Las Vegas that housed equipment for the state welfare agency.

And nobody seems to feel much urgency to get to the bottom of the matter.

Oh sure, the state attorney general has announced a probe of the thefts -- but that comes a full six months after the crime was first reported in February. And Las Vegas police decided against investigating the matter because state bureaucrats weren't able to provide specific information, such as the date the equipment vanished.

Sounds like state officials really took the issue seriously.

Mike Wilden, who runs the state Health and Human Services Division, defended his agency. He rebutted criticism that poor security was to blame, telling The Associated Press that "very specific procedures and protocols were in place."

Thank goodness! We can only imagine how much equipment the thieves could have ripped off in the absence of such "specific procedures and protocols."

The fact that Mr. Wilden admits security has now been increased at the warehouse -- additional locks and lighting are among the improvements -- tells you all you need to know.

Mr. Wilden said the missing computers have been replaced with new computers purchased with savings from other programs -- whatever that means. At any rate, those "savings" have no longer been realized for taxpayers.

Frankly, the whole matter smacks of an inside job -- there were apparently no signs of forced entry into the warehouse.

The weak excuses offered in the wake of the crime don't inspire confidence that state officials took the issue as seriously as they should have. Let's hope the attorney general takes a much more aggressive approach.