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GREENSBORO — Patients at a Greensboro doctors’ office have been notified that their personal information — including Social Security numbers and addresses — was stolen in May.

In a letter mailed to patients, Greensboro Gynecology Associates said a backup tape of their computer database was stolen. The letter was dated June 16, but some letters weren’t postmarked until July 9.

The medical practice said a backup tape of patient information was stolen May 29 from an employee who was taking the tape to an off-site storage facility for safekeeping.

The stolen information included patients’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, employers, insurance companies, policy numbers and family members.

The tape did not include treatment or specific medical data.

“We are very concerned about this theft, as we too are victims,” Pat Higgins, the practice’s administrator, wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. “We are notifying our present and former patients.”

The practice at 719 Green Valley Road, Suite 305, said personal information for its physicians and other staff members also was on the stolen tape.

Higgins said the case is under investigation. She did not respond to inquiries about how many patients were affected, how the theft occurred and whether anything else was taken.

The practice’s letter said the theft had been reported to police. However, officials with the Greensboro Police Department and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said they had no such report on file.

The stolen data was not encrypted, but Greensboro Gynecology Associates said it isn’t likely to be accessed.

“We have consulted with several computer security experts, and they have advised it is highly unlikely the tapes can be accessed because of the program used and the language (the information) is written in,” according to a recording on a hot line set up to address patients’ concerns.

The recording said the data cannot be accessed on the Internet.

Greensboro Gynecology Associates said they are consulting with computer security experts to prevent similar thefts in the future.

“We sincerely regret and apologize that this incident occurred,” the letter stated. “We recommend that you remain vigilant in determining if you become a victim of identity theft by monitoring your credit accounts and financial information on a regular basis.”

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com