Four desktop computers were stolen during a break-in last weekend at a Diocese of Providence office, possibly exposing names, addresses and Social Security numbers of about 5,000 current and former Catholic school employees.

The theft occurred sometime between 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, said Michael Guilfoyle, a spokesman for the diocese.

One of the stolen computers contained a “substantial amount of data” that included personnel information on current and former Catholic school employees throughout the Diocese of Providence. It did not have any personnel information about other Diocesan employees, he said.

The four computers were in an office behind two locked doors. The thief or thieves broke through a window to the Catholic schools office in the three-story diocese chancery at One Cathedral Square. It is believed that a bench in the office area was then used to break down a steel door, Guilfoyle said.

Also stolen were four computer monitors and some less valuable equipment, he said. He estimated the value of the computers to be $5,000 to $7,000.

The office suite that was burglarized did not have an alarm system, he said. The diocese does employ a security guard, but it was not clear last night whether the guard was on duty during the break-in, he said.

While it is doubtful that the thieves were targeting these particular computers because of their contents, Guilfoyle said the diocese is urging that the affected employees contact one of the three major credit bureaus to put a fraud alert on their credit reports.

The diocese has set up a special phone number, (401) 278-4678, for employees who may have been affected. It will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and throughout the week during business hours. There is also information about the break-in and how to contact the credit agencies at www.dioceseofprovidence.org.

Guilfoyle said that all diocese computers, including the ones that were stolen, are password-protected. Employees have unique passwords that they are required to change every few weeks.

The diocese has notified both the Providence police and state police. The Providence police have assumed responsibility for investigating the crime.

Of the 5,000 people potentially affected by the data theft, about 1,500 are current employees.

Another diocese office was broken into about a year ago and a computer stolen, Guilfoyle said. That computer did not contain any sensitive information, he said.

“The Catholic schools office sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience this incident may cause its current and former employees,” the diocese said in a statement.

tbarmann@projo.com