NH burglars hot for PlayStation 3
By JIM DEVINE AND MARK HAYWARD
Union Leader News
15 hours, 34 minutes ago
On the eve of the debut of the PlayStation 3 video console, burglars broke into electronic game stores in Derry and Bedford, some making off with the coveted item while others settled for rival systems.
Several Sony PlayStation 3 systems were stolen during a burglary overnight Thursday at EB Games in Derry, police said.
In Bedford, police said, burglars forced open a rear emergency exit at EB Games and made off with 18 Microsoft Xbox 360s, a game that generated similar hype during its release last Christmas season.
"This doesn't look like a random event. This was very well planned," said Bedford police detective Matthew Fleming.
"You take 18 Xboxes, you've obviously got a plan of how you're going to move that stuff," he said.
Other stores were hit in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Fleming said. An assistant manager at Gamestop in Tyngsboro, Mass., confirmed the store had been burglarized, but said store officials had told him not to release any details. Tyngsboro police did not return a telephone call last night.
Police were alerted to the Derry burglary shortly after 7 a.m. yesterday, when employees discovered a door to the store had been forced open.
The store posted a sign explaining that the store would not be open due to reasons beyond its control.
Police said the store is still working to compile an inventory of everything that was stolen, but it has been confirmed that several PlayStation 3 systems were taken.
EB Games declined to comment as the investigation continues.
"We're working with police on that, and there's nothing we can say right now," said an employee identifying himself as Mike.
In Bedford, police valued the 18 stolen, unopened Xbox consoles at $7,200.
"It (PlayStation 3) is probably what they were looking for, and they just grabbed what they could and got out," Fleming said.
Bedford police and several other police agencies are investigating the crime. Anyone with any information is urged to call the police department at 472-5113.
Only 400,000 PlayStation 3 games were released nationwide yesterday. Retailing at $599, the games offer cutting edge features such as wireless Internet capability.
Many camped in store parking lots for a chance to buy the game console, or to turn it over and make three times the selling price or more. Listings for the 60-gigabyte version fetched more than $2,000 on eBay yesterday afternoon.
Aware that some may try to profit from selling stolen games, eBay has announced that a photo of the PlayStation 3 pre-order or sales receipt must be posted with a photo of the system up for auction.
In Derry, Wal-Mart posted a sign in the electronics department saying the 10 60-gigabyte versions that were expected had not yet been received. Rain checks were issued to the first individuals to enter at 7 a.m.
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread
Facebook
Twitter