COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A computer tape stolen from a state intern's car put more than a million Social Security numbers in the hands of a thief. It was one of the most notorious car break-ins in Ohio history.

It led to firings and vows from Gov. Ted Strickland to do a better job protecting state data.

Since then, encryption software has been installed, but Target 4 discovered that more state computers were stolen in 2007 than in the three previous years combined.

Target 4's Patrick Preston has the story.

With roughly one computer for every state employee, Ohio's more than 60,000 state-owned computers are a constant target for thieves.

"It's a trend for most government agencies," said Steve Edmondson, director of the Ohio Office of Information Technology.

The problem isn't new. It's just getting worse.

Four months before the now-infamous state intern vehicle break-in, Target 4 questioned what the state was doing to protect state-owned equipment and data.

At the time, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services led state agencies in computer-related thefts.

In the course of three years, the agency had lost a total of nine laptops, three desktops, a tablet PC and a hard drive – one device contained Medicaid information on 20 people.

"As long as we continue to lose them, then I think we need to look at methods to improve the deterrence," said Robert Ferguson, Deputy Director of the ODJFS Office of Chief Inspector.

Fifteen months later, NBC 4 came back to find ODJFS has lost five more laptops, a desktop and a flash drive. Two thefts took place inside employees' cars. One laptop was stolen in a home burglary.

But ODJFS isn't alone in losing electronics. In 2007, nine laptops were stolen from the Ohio Department of Transportation.

"There was one incident in which a number of laptops were stolen. So really maybe three thefts, but in one of those cases, six laptops were stolen at one time," said ODOT Deputy Director Scott Varner.

Surprisingly, ODOT's nine laptop thefts pale in comparison to the loss leader among state agencies, the Ohio Department of Health, where 26 laptops disappeared last year. The total value was nearly $40,000.

"We need to be good stewards of taxpayer money. We recognize that," said Jay Carey, of the Ohio Department of Health.

The problem of computer thefts is pervasive across state government.

We searched through Ohio State Highway Patrol records and counted more than 80 computers and hard drives stolen from the state in 2007.

More than we found in 2004, 2005 and 2006 combined.

So how many agencies have done something to recover the stolen computers? Only one -- the Department of Health -- which began electronically tracking more than 2,200 ODH laptops and desktops last summer.

"After the theft, we decided that we should put (tracking software) on all of our computers," Carey said.

The tracking works like LoJack does for vehicles, tracing the computers' whereabouts in the world. It's already helped the state patrol locate one stolen state laptop in Denmark.

"We do need to continue to move toward having a tracking device in all the computers," Strickland said.

Even Gov. Strickland said he is in favor of electronic tracking. But despite that desire, the Department of Health remains alone in tracking its computers.

Reporter: "Are you satisfied with the pace of progress towards electronic tracking?"

Strickland: "Well, I'm not an IT person and it's really difficult for me to make judgments about what is and is not feasible in terms of actually dealing with technology."

Reporter: "Why doesn't the state have this type of service in place for all computers?"

Edmondson: "We have been taking a serious look at that."

Because beyond electronic tracking, the technology would allow the state clear stolen computers of all information and render them inoperable.

Edmondson said he is using the leverage of 20,000 state laptops and desktops to negotiate for a substantial price discount and he expects the 12 largest state agencies, including ODOT and ODJFS to sign up for computer tracking by the end of June.

An NBC 4 news poll with Survey USA shows that of the 500 adults asked, 64 percent think the state could do more to ensure property like laptops are safe from theft.

Seventy-seven percent said they think it should be mandatory to have a state tracking system for such equipment.