
Police say the theft of more than $20,000 in video game equipment and software from a Hooksett store could be linked to a string of burglaries across New England.
Surveillance tape at the EP Games store shows three masked burglars disabling the store's security alarm late Sunday night and making off with 22 consoles, police said. The suspects also stole at least $13,000 worth of games.
"When you watch the video, you'll see these guys know exactly what they're doing," Lt. Paul Cecilio said. "These guys are highly organized, which only means they're going to hit again."
The crime may be connected to several other similar thefts across the region, including two burglaries last month at EP Games stores in Derry and Bedford, police said. Investigators are discussing potential links to similar burglaries in Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well.
In New Hampshire, the thieves have targeted Microsoft's year-old XBox 360 and Sony's new PlayStation 3. Several of the PlayStation consoles were stolen in Derry on Nov. 16, the night before the system went on sale. The same night, 18 XBox 360s were stolen in Bedford.
The thieves tried to steal the floor model PlayStation 3 in Hooksett, the only one in the store, but couldn't get into the metal cabinet housing it.
Det. Matt Fleming warned consumers to be cautious when buying game consoles since they could be stolen merchandise. And he said burglars breaking into homes could be looking for the games.
"If you have these types of items, secure them in your home as best you can," he said.
Police have stepped up patrols around shopping areas due to the thefts.

Square Enix launches Final Fantasy X 25th anniversary site, revealing new Nomura art, books, music releases, and merchandise.
Look I know VIII has its issues and all that but how on earth can the do big anniversary events with new artwork and merchandise for VII, IX and X yet VIII got sweet f*** all.
They could have given it something during its 25th anniversary yet all it got was a single Happy Anniversary post on their social media.

A brutal reset, a smarter story, and a return to what made it great—Mortal Kombat (2011) revived the series.
15 years went by so fast. I remember playing through the story mode at launch.

Why did Sony push Shuhei Yoshida out of his role leading PlayStation's first-party games? He'd overseen some huge successes. Well, apparently, he didn't listen.
Yeah I can see that for sure. Shuhei Yoshida should have been in charge not Jim Ryan.
More confirmation that Jim Ryan is the culprit for what has happened to Sony. Hulst needs to go too. What sucks is that a lot of the good top heads at Sony are no longer there. I wish that guys that were forced out prematurely by Dumbo Jimbo like Shuhei and Layden came back.
Makes you wonder if MS even thought about hiring him after Phil and Sarah were leaving. He certainly couldn't make their situation any worse.
All the gamer/consumer lead heads are gone across PS and Xbox. shuhei gone phil's gone (questionable) but gone. The future of gaming is somewhat uncertain across the board.