A handheld computer belonging to MI5 and thought to store information on fighting terrorism has been stolen from a house rented by the security agency.

Police in Manchester have confirmed that a house in Greater Manchester had been broken into over the weekend and that an encrypted computer was stolen.

The burglar entered the house through an open window according to police.

They added that because the files were encrypted it would be near impossible for anyone to access the sensitive information.

Police believe the robbery was carried out by an opportunist burglar and that the house, rented by MI5, was not deliberately targeted.

The latest episode of stolen data comes after a civil servant lost lost top-secret documents containing intelligence on al-Qaeda.

The files were left on a seat on a train in London in June.

www.mi5.gov.uk

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