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U. Darby man accused of stealing Penn patient data

An Upper Darby man has been charged in a case of identity theft that officials say involved patients' personal information taken from computers at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

An Upper Darby man has been charged in a case of identity theft that officials say involved patients' personal information taken from computers at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Upper Darby police announced yesterday that Shacoy McNish, 27, has been charged with theft, receiving stolen property, identity theft, and related crimes. He was released on bail Dec. 1, according to court records. Security at the Sears store on 69th Street called police Nov. 23 to report that McNish allegedly made fraudulent purchases totaling almost $3,000 on two occasions using the Social Security numbers of two other people. In McNish's car, police said, they found photocopies detailing personal information of 19 people, including the two alleged victims.

The information was from the Penn Health Systems computer, and all 19 people had been patients, said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

Susan Phillips, spokeswoman for the system, said: "We are cooperating fully with the authorities." - Mari A. Schaefer