Open Tech Support - Playstation 3 and the campers

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Some people can't wait: Two gunmen stormed an Elk Grove store Thursday morning and made off with four coveted PlayStation 3 video game consoles, a day before they were to go on sale.

PlayStation 3 is the latest ballyhooed techno offering to create campsites at electronics stores. Buyers have been lining up since the beginning of the week to be one of the first owners.

Sales begin today for the 400,000 consoles distributed to North American stores. They'll retail for $499 to $599, but already are selling in advance on eBay for $3,000.

After the Elk Grove heist, police warned retailers in the area -- some of whom hired more security. They also advised the encampments of hopeful purchasers to watch their backs.

At the Best Buy store on Arden Way, John Bennett played dominoes with others waiting in line Thursday night.

"They ain't gonna rob this one," he said when he heard about the Elk Grove caper. "I got two days' pay in this."

The two robbers, wearing ski masks and black jackets and described as 6-foot-3, hit the GameStop on Laguna Boulevard about 10:30 a.m., according to Elk Grove police. They left without injuring customers or employees.

"They wanted the high-end equipment," said Christopher Trim, Elk Grove police spokesman.

The robbers at GameStop also stole several 2005 model Microsoft Xbox 360 game systems. But those are so last year.

Manager Rod Overbo declined to talk about the robbery.

"When you're dealing with high-end products where there's a lot of demand, the concern is individuals will commit crimes to obtain the products," Trim said.

Even before the GameStop robbery, the Best Buy in Elk Grove had hired extra security, said store manager Trevor Fee.

Thirty-nine people lined up outside the store for an inventory of 34 video game consoles. They erected card tables and portable heaters and played games to pass the time.

"There are probably more of us waiting in line than there are gunmen, so I am not too worried," said Sean Minot.

The Natomas man had called area stores and decided his best odds of making a buy were in Elk Grove.

At a Circuit City a few blocks to the west, 13 people were preparing to camp overnight Thursday for the 10 available PlayStation 3 systems.

"We are more worried about people robbing us for our money while we are waiting than we are of being mugged for a PlayStation 3," said Jose Armenta, who lives just north of the Elk Grove city limits.

Armenta, who came with three other friends, hopes to sell his PlayStation for $5,000.

Qaseem Aszila of West Sacramento had been in line at the Best Buy on Arden Way since Wednesday. He displayed some sticks in the back of his truck he would use for protection.

"That (robbery) makes you think. You should be on your toes," he said.

Anyone contemplating selling stolen goods online could have trouble with eBay, said Catherine England, a spokeswoman for the San Jose-based online auction Web site.

Those selling the PlayStation 3 before the Friday launch had to display a picture of a "pre-order receipt," England said.

Sellers also must have made 50 previous sales on eBay with 90 percent positive feedback, she said.

"We've been told by law enforcement that the dumbest place to sell stolen goods is on eBay because you have to have an address, an e-mail address and we take financial information," England said. "It is by no means anonymous."

Trim, the Elk Grove police spokesman, said buyers going to stores should use credit cards instead of cash.

And, if confronted by a determined thief, give it up, he said.

"It's a game," Trim said. "It's a piece of electronics."