After theft scare, vet receives check

ASHTABULA (AP) -- An Ohio veteran concerned that he was a victim of identity theft because his disability check did not arrive on time confirmed Tuesday that he has received his payment.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has said the delay was not connected to a May 3 burglary at a VA data analyst's home in which information on 26.5 million veterans and military personnel was taken.
Steven Michel, 33, who lives in Ashtabula, said he received his June payment of $873 Friday. He said he was told the VA traced the problem in his account to processing done April 27.
"They are telling me the incident is not related to the theft. I'm still not sure," said Michel, who said he was diagnosed with a heart condition about seven years ago.
Michel said there was no problem with his May 1 payment.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson told the House Government Reform Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday that the data was taken during a burglary in an Aspen Hill, Md., neighborhood in which there had been a pattern of thefts by young burglars.