PS3 launch sees multiple thefts

[UPDATE] Connecticut man shot and hospitalized as armed men rob line outside Wal-Mart.

With PlayStation 3 systems fetching thousands of dollars on eBay and gamers across the country lining up to purchase Sony's $500 and $600 consoles, some unscrupulous people are seeing the launch as a quick way to make a buck at someone else's expense.

The Sacremento Bee is reporting that "at least four" PS3 systems were stolen, along with several Xbox 360s from an Elk Grove, California, GameStop by a pair of armed men Thursday morning. Elk Grove police responded by notifying local retailers and nearby police departments of the theft and advised those lining up for the system not to do so alone, and not to bring cash.

Meanwhile, Eugene, Oregon's KMTR News is reporting that three men who had been camped out in front of a Circuit City waiting for the Friday launch of the PlayStation 3 were robbed early Thursday morning.

According to the station's report, the three had left the line temporarily and were stopped by a pair of masked men as they passed a nearby Target. The two men led the trio behind the store and mugged them. Police used mall surveillance tapes to retrace the robbers' steps after the crime and were able to recover some stolen goods, including a wallet.

[UPDATE] The Associated Press is reporting on another PS3 launch incident, this one involving two men armed with guns sticking up a line of 15-20 people waiting outside a Putnam, Connecticut, Wal-Mart overnight. The two men demanded money from the group, and when one of the customers resisted, he was shot in the chest and shoulder. The AP reports that the victim is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The police are now searching for the gunmen, both believed to be in their teens.

601 Comments

  • sm0ke311

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 12:09 pm PT

    stupid methfaces will only do it

  • toby_mac_freek

    Posted Dec 23, 2006 9:26 pm PT

    Wow. I am so glad I live in a very laid back city (10,000 people, 90% are Mennonites, I'm one of the 10% that isnt).

    Anyway I feel sorry for those people! I hope those shooters and muggers get cought and then thrown in jail for a very long time

  • blancobo

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 1:37 pm PT

    This is the kind of violence that shames the world, the capitalist world and the Americas. I, myself am an American so I am not judging outside the fence. It is truly a shame that anyone would make an attempt to steal, or find this as an opportunity to steal money from another human being. Sadly but truly, this is where laws like "cutting a thief's hand" or shooting who shoots you" do not sound so unscrupulous. NO ONE is supposed to take revenge from this but such incidents speak LOWLY of these criminals raising and family values. I feel sorry for criminals like such, because their only fate lies in failure and shame... perhaps the worst. It is very sad that a console launch could be tainted with such shameful acts. I trully, sincerely hope, these criminals are caught, processed, and punished justly for their mediocre acts. Finally, I hope NO ONE goes to ebay and buys a robbed, no receipt PS3 this Christmas. Participating in this would be sponsoring the pathetic representations of an always forward progressing society.

  • ste90

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 11:46 am PT

    Idiots for shooting people for a PS3 thats just ridiculous, whats worse is that the people were in there teens which makes it kind of worrying how bad teens want the PS3, that they would be willing to shoot people. I bet Sony didn't think the launch of the PS3 would have lots of sad faces rather than casualties.

  • Gamer1729

    Posted Dec 4, 2006 3:52 pm PT

    Nice.

  • _Sam_

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 11:32 am PT

    I expected there to be some, but not so violent!

  • SPANNER-MAN

    Posted Nov 20, 2006 10:09 am PT

    Patients is a virtue. I am not killing myself over a 600 hundred dollar system that can crash at anytime, seeing that they are new to the market.

  • FiestaUnicorn

    Posted Nov 20, 2006 3:33 am PT

    My friend got me one. She didn't wait in line either. The store she runs got extra and she's sending it to me. Should be here today or tomorrow.

  • Omega3210

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 4:04 pm PT

    what a bad news!

    I was thinking of the idea of camping!

    what the hell!!!

  • King_Dodongo

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    PS3 FANBOY ATTACK! RUN AWAY!

  • Radiozo

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 12:21 pm PT

    Why the hell are people carrying that much money in their wallets. Debit cards for the win.

  • lilsmuck18

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 10:06 am PT

    "pacerfan1231
    Fuk SONY, this never happened with the 360"

    Thats because sony ps3 is better and is worth much more then the 360.
    Ps3 owns but for real how could people kill or shoot fr a consol...i pity them...

  • jonzilla_basic

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 8:20 am PT

    and Sony new that would happen and though with their crappy launch managed only to ship about 140,000 units instead of the 400,000. Nice!!

  • SamQur

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 8:05 am PT

    pathetic

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 7:52 am PT

    That's really sad.

  • freakykidd

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 3:38 am PT

    Good thing there's enough Wii's to go around at least... At least there wont be as much violence (did anybody hear about the drive-by shooting?)

  • Supreme_Fantasy

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 2:58 am PT

    That's pathetic...The security must guard enough their position as well.

  • chickmagnet_1

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 11:06 pm PT

    I made a comment earlier about, instead of the theives stealing from the EB and gamestop customers, they should be stealing from EB and Gamestop stores, and they should also be stealing from Sony. Both companies rip off their customers, and it would be nice to see them go down the tubes. Unfortunately, it is true. This comment was reported by someone, which in turn meant that it was deleted. I am guessing that it was reported by someone who either works for Gamestop/EB or Sony. Most people would not have a problem with my comment, unless they work for those stores. Cause us gamers know that they DO rip you off. What's the matter, afraid to admit it? Maybe he/she does work for them, and doesn't want to get let go when the company fails. (Don't worry, it's not going to. Even with my comment) It does not matter that the comment got deleted, because people who have been gaming for a long time, already know the truth. I challenge someone to open up another chain, and be fair to their customers. I know a lot of people who would walk across the street and go to the other store, if given the choice. So I see how it is for speaking the truth, and standing up for fairness and what you believe. You get shushed. If I ever hear of anyone ripping off an EB/Gamestop, I'm going to laugh my @$$ off. I don't steal, because I was raised better than that. As a Christian, I myself, would not do that. So please, someone else do it, so I can laugh really hard.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 8:58 pm PT

    These stupid people give food to Jack Thompson.......for more of his BS

  • snakenamedjoe

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 4:57 pm PT

    He didn't shoot him for a PS3. He shot him for the money he was going to use to buy the PS3.

  • KaptainKernal

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    DUDE THAT GUY WAS SHOT! CRAZY PEOPLE.... I want a PS3 but Ill wait till they have some supply.... Shooting people for a PS3 that disgusts me

  • Father_Time89

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 3:46 pm PT

    @ragin_massaih

    I hope you know that they are also going to be doing the same thing to a Wii.

  • iceuk

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 3:19 pm PT

    @ragin_massaih - thats one tough ps3

  • dragonrul55

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    I finally understand why people brought guns with them to the store for their own protection.

  • Cloud737

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 12:10 pm PT

    Seems like the world is mostly populated by f@cking ret@rds. Those robbers must be complete idiots for holding a line of 15-20 people. Not only is it hard to control 20 people with just 2 men, but it`s also a sure-proof way of getting caught, as most of them probably have important details leading to the criminals identities. Hope they rot in jail for their greed and arrogance.

  • ragin_massaih

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 11:21 am PT

    SIGH BORING
    here watch this PS3 get SMASHED... far more entertaining
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CTy7Nx0oPI

  • AntoniustheGrey

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 10:56 am PT

    This is ridicolous. I can't believe people are committing acts of violence to get what they want.

  • Ebigmike2003

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 8:57 am PT

    what idiots these people are standing outside for 3 and 4 days for a game system. it's not the serious!

  • wonkisjones

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 8:22 am PT

    be careful!!! anyone who needs to get off line, go with another person, please! it's very dangerous being alone with so much money with you!

  • celticpyro

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 7:50 am PT

    haahahahahhahahahahaha someone only got stabbed for a 360 . people are gettin shot over the ps3. we win ....

  • joe-effect10

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 5:01 am PT

    I knew somebody in line would get shot because HELLO its midnight and you have like $700 in your pocket!!!!!!! That's why I just watched the live show on ON THE SPOT and anyways the Wii is better

  • Nawras

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 3:55 am PT

    Oh my.

  • Lordofultima

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 3:30 am PT

    So while I recieved a PS3 after waiting a day in line.. I planned on selling it. But now that I'm hearing all this, I'm thinking about just keeping it.. In honor to all the people who were mugged and beat, and to all the PS3's that were stolen from circulation. Here's to you guys.

  • austinite04

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 11:44 pm PT

    Those gunman are teens!!! Columbine anyone? Thank you Matrix!! NOT!!
    I swear now days you can't do anything without some violence occuring.

    I would like to have a PS3 but not shoot anyone for it! I have a life unlike those idiots!!

  • masterofTS

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 11:33 pm PT

    Shows how bad people want a PS3.

  • nitrog

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 10:43 pm PT

    You guys are kinda missing the point here. It's not because of drug addictions ect. Think like a criminal for a few seconds some common sense can save your life. ps3 is expensive......very expensive. even more expensive if you have one during a shortage. So you take that and couple it with the average gamer crowd. They don't get out much and they are probably over weight and not able to defend themselves very well. So you have very expensive equipment being sold with very little in the way of security measures to people who can't defend themselves very well. Sounds like a jackpot to the ears of a criminal. Also exactly the reason I didn't bother to go wait in line. I played one in walmart for a while yesterday other then that I will get one sometime next year.

  • nitrog

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 10:37 pm PT

    "pacerfan1231
    Fuk SONY, this never happened with the 360 "

    OK there is logic for you blame sony for the occurances my god they never should of released that system and that guy wouldn't of been shot? People shoot people have been shot over tennis shoes or don't you remember the 90's. Saying that it didn't happen with the 360.........there wasn't even enough of them at launch for people to steal. That coupled with not as many people wanted it = why it didn't happen. God fanboys are ignorant.

  • WTS

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 10:36 pm PT

    He "got shot for being stupid"? He was standing up for he was right, you should get out into the real world, killuminati4181, there are no extra lives there.

  • DeViLzzz

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 10:35 pm PT

    These should not be sold at night at launch parties as criminals wait lurking in the bushes and the stores for insurance purposes and legal purposes and headache purposes should hire security and not let anyone during these times wait and loiter outside of stores in the middle of the night ..... this assinine .... also the police should be thinking of public safety first and should be saying something about these stores doing what they do as the law is the first one called in when all hell breaks loose. I am sure the wives and husbands and children of officers would hate to get a call saying their loved one was dead over some idiot trying to steal or wait in line for a dumb console system.

  • Soony

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 9:51 pm PT

    the reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetailer should sell all these online during new launching, which can avoid all these robbery and stuff lol

  • Accessbboy

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 9:48 pm PT

    LIke i told every one since 2 months back!! When the ps3 comes out the world will go crazy and its happening. The sad part is stores like walmart and bestbuy are stupid why cant they do it the smart way!! make people get raffle tickets the first of the bunch they have gets a phoe call and wins!! more better to get the system no crazy lines no robberies just a pick up, like that everyone has a chance to get a ps3 without the suffering and aggrevation. Like Willie Wonka and the chocalate factory find the golden Ps3 LOL to bad it dont work like this could of made a whole movie on the person with the lucky ps3

  • MyBrainIsStew

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 9:44 pm PT

    what we need now is trauma center for the Wii so that someone can remove the bullets.

  • pacerfan1231

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 8:48 pm PT

    Fuk SONY, this never happened with the 360

  • rugripper40

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 8:43 pm PT

    wow...all over a toy ...unreal...and ebay has the gaul to let these people sell stolen mechandise...phew...what a f--ked up world this is getting to be

  • marc-of-madness

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 8:40 pm PT

    is obvious why this happens on day one people like that have no job and no money and most have a drug habit to please so they are sorted for a week or two with the ps3 cause its worth so much money on ebay

  • ladellb

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 7:48 pm PT

    It's all F--KED UP! People are really twisted in the head. I'm not surprised.

  • 0blivi0n

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 7:34 pm PT

    imagine getting killed or shot over a stupid console!?! That would suck!

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 6:49 pm PT

    thisisjosh
    goddamn that's so stupid. how are these guys gonna feel when ps3s are everywhere?

    They will feel real good actually since they will EBay it and and make a boatload of cash off of them.

  • xJackelx

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 6:18 pm PT

    "GsR_lives
    @Walmart: be prepared for teh lawsuits. Almost all Walmarts are 24-7 stores. Unless that one closes during the night...sekuri-tay should have been out there to insure people were safe. hmm.... o_O I might be careful waiting on the Wii this Sunday morning. don't want to get JUMPED!! LOL"


    You sir, are dumb.

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