ROANOKE -- Advance Auto said a computer hacker may have gotten financial information of up to 56,000 customers at 14 stores in Virginia and seven other states.

The Roanoke company said the customers shopped at the 14 stores from December 2001 to December 2004. Advance Auto spokeswoman Shelly Whitaker said the affected stores are in Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Louisiana, New York, Indiana and Mississippi. The only Virginia store is in Richmond.

Whitaker said the company discovered several weeks ago that the information had been breached, and is sending letters to affected customers.

She said law enforcement officials are investigating and Advance is working with a security expert.

Advance has 3,261 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

-- The Associated Press