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Melbourne real estate agency, Nelson Alexander, has been targeted by thieves who allegedly stole potentially sensitive information related to 89 historical rental files during a nighttime break-in. The stolen boxes contained documents with names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, tenancy ledgers, and possibly identity documents like licenses.

    According to Victoria Police, a 40-year-old man from Fitzroy North has been charged with handling stolen goods, and some of the documents have been recovered. The agency had warned affected renters about the breach via email, advising them to review their information for potential harm.

    The incident highlights concerns over data retention in real estate agencies. In Victoria, these businesses are required to retain sensitive information for seven years before destroying it. However, they can choose to keep this material longer if stored securely.

    Data protection advocates argue that real estate agencies are targeted due to the large amount of personal information they hold. Samantha Floreani from Digital Rights Watch suggests mandating data retention periods to prevent agencies from storing sensitive information for extended periods.

    Nelson Alexander has stated that it takes data storage seriously and self-reported the incident to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The agency claims its current rental data is stored securely using digital/cloud technology providers with strict security protocols. A police investigation into the theft continues.