A bunch of Sony PlayStation 3 games worth £1,700 (US$ 3,352) were stolen in UK game store Currys in Old Shoreham Road, Hove. Authorities say that the heist happened at around two in the afternoon.

Among the games stolen were World Snooker Challenge 2007, four copies of Sonic The Hedgehog, two copies of Ridge Racer 7 and three copies of Splinter Cell Double Agent. The theft is among a series of felonies following the launch of Sony's next-generation game console.

Robberies and assaults were reported in the UK, US and Japan where the worst strike happened at a Japanese warehouse where some 100 PS3s were reportedly stolen.

Police say that the theft in Currys was easily carried out because the boxes were put on display openly in store racks rather than in a secure location as the usual practice is with games. The authorities have warned shops to be on the lookout for people seeking refunds without proofs of purchase.

We all knew that Sony PS3 would be hot, but we didn't expect it to be this hot.