A laptop and USB devices were stolen sometime this week from the Philadelphia’s elections storage warehouse.

I went over this morning to check out the security situation. I was able to walk right into the voting machine storage unit, alone, for several minutes.

City Commissioners told me this morning the stolen devices have been disabled & they do not compromise the integrity of the Nov. election.

When this video ends, I ran into an staffer who told me press can’t be in the building. I told him the door was open & I announced my name.

This is the outside of the storage warehouse where the theft took place. I didn’t see any security cameras outside or in the building.

The staffer wouldn’t answer my questions about security. On the phone, Deputy City Nick Custodio told me that a security guard should be stationed there at all times now. He was not for some reason. I did see a security walking to the other end of the property when I pulled up.

There’s a man sitting in the door now, more staffers coming in and out of the building. I likely just walked in at a moment where no one is around, but the ease of access was still alarming to me.

Story: https://billypenn.com/2020/10/01/philly-election-warehouse-security-theft-stolen-usb-laptop-vote-integrity/

JUST IN: In response to the theft & my subsequent reporting from the warehouse, @PhillyMayor is ramping up security:

- Increased guards at the site 24/7
- Adding round-the-clock police presence
- a new logging procedure for entering/exiting the building https://billypenn.com/2020/10/01/philly-election-warehouse-security-theft-stolen-usb-laptop-vote-integrity/