Thousands of computers and technology equipment are unaccounted for due to lax inventory records by the state Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), according to an audit released Friday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

In addition, DiNapoli said the agency destroys new and barely used devices rather than donating or selling them.

ITS was created in 2012 to centralize IT services for state executive agencies.

DiNapoli’s audit found inventories were often inaccurate; records from ITSM and stockrooms didn’t match; devices like laptops were missing; and security was lax around the stockrooms where equipment holding potentially sensitive information was stored.

Auditors also found that stockroom employees were not properly trained, DiNapoli said.

“Information Technology Services needs to do a better job of  keeping an accurate inventory of its equipment to avoid wasting taxpayer dollars and to protect any sensitive information stored on these devices,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “The findings in this audit are very concerning and the agency needs to overhaul its operations.”

ITS told DiNapoli it began reviewing and correcting its inventory data after the audit began. It stated that it will continue to improve monitoring of inventory moving forward.