Nearly 70 members of the Weber State University campus community have been notified of a security breach possibly affecting them.

Police have arrested a man they believe is connected to a break-in at the Shepherd Union Building's mail center between 2 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. the following day. Thieves made off with approximately $1,600 in cash, three computers and a postal scale, said WSU spokesman John Kowalewski.

"They have surveillance tape in the union building in general and around campus that they are looking at," he said, adding that video images connected the man who was arrested to the break-in.

Hard-copy records of post office box rental information was also taken from the center. Some of the stolen rental cards contained names, addresses and Social Security numbers for members of the campus community who rented post office boxes in the union building during the past eight years. Only 35 of the 300 available boxes are currently rented.

Officials are unaware of how many cards actually contained personal information, but they have notified 69 people who currently hold or have held post office boxes.

The stolen computers are not believed to contain any personal information but were used primarily for Internet access, Kowalewski said.

"We are trying to cast a wide enough net but we're really just being cautious," he said. "The crime at the union building only affects the individuals who rented from the union building mail center, not mailboxes in the residence halls or elsewhere. Those records were not compromised."

Authorities were made aware of the breach when mail center employees showed up Friday for work. The investigation began immediately, Kowalewski said. Officials also are searching for another man believed to be connected with the case.

The man police arrested was seen attempting to break into an ATM, also inside the union building at WSU. Police found property belonging to the university in the man's vehicle. He was booked into the Weber County Jail.

Kowalewski said the two men believed to be involved have no ties to the university.

Letters have been sent out to affected individuals, detailing steps that can be taken to prevent and respond to identity theft as well as information about an available credit monitoring service, Kowalewski said. Anyone believing they might have had information within the union building mail center at the time of the break-in is asked to e-mail security@weber.edu for assistance.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com