Thieves have stolen a laptop from the Missouri campaign office of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

The Dell machine was swiped sometime in the early hours of Wednesday morning (1 October) after unidentified thieves gained entry to the office in Independence, Missouri by chucking a brick through its window. The stolen laptop belonged to a campaign worker and is said to include "strategic information" on plans to canvass support for McCain in the Kansas City area, Computerworld reports. The field office also works for local GOP candidates.

Campaign staff are concerned that burglars apparently singled them out and fear a political motive for the theft. They plan to beef up security. Twenty-two Eee PCs were left behind by crooks, suggesting that the burglary was motivated by more than a need to sell stolen goods. ®

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