After a woman was accosted just minutes after leaving Best Buy with her new xBox 360, lucky system owners weren't feeling so lucky.

Marred with feelings of distrust and anxiety, the few gamers that actually managed to purchase on of the coveted consoles rushed home, speeding and taking back roads to avoid as much human interaction as possible.

But the frenzy created by the hottest electronics equipment this Christmas has also sparked an influx in the sale of another, more unusual item; home alarm systems.

ADT and other popular home alarm systems have reported a 150 per cent increase in sales in the short time the new xBox has been available for sale. Market analysts believe there is a direct correlation between the increased paranoia felt by concole owners and the skyrocketing sales of home protection.

Some system owners have already been targeted in their homes; more than a dozen Londoners have reported threatening notes and graffiti painted on doors and mailboxes. One house was broken into and ransacked. Thieves stole all of owner Mike McDougall's gaming systems including the now-outdated xBox, a Playstation 2, and an old-school Atari. They also made off with about $5,500 in various games.

“Fortunately for me,” McDougall said, “I had brought my 360 to a buddie's house to play, and it wasn't at my place when the dude broke in.”

The woman that was mugged in the parking lot is alright, and only suffered minor injuries when her adolescent assailant pushed her to the ground. But she has told police that because of the incident she is too afraid to leave the house.

“I feel like everywhere I go, anything I buy is going to make me a target,” she said.

Security and management at Best Buy have stated that the incident was an isolated one, but home alarm shareholders hope that their report is wrong.

Fran Hutchens, CEO of Brinks Home Alarms, said that with the amazing rise in purchases, she was able to give herself a substantial raise.