Thousands of debit card users had their account numbers stolen after hackers broke into the computer systems at the Cheers Liquor Mart in Colorado Springs.

A Cheers co-owner tells 11 News he and the other owners feel terrible for what's happened. And they're spending thousands of dollars to keep it from happening again. "Its been a hellish couple of days for everybody," said Jack Backman, co-owner of Cheers Liquor Mart.

The hackers allegedly stole the debit card numbers sometime in the past few weeks. “We feel like we're a big victim of a crime," said Backman. "Its going to cost us customers, its already cost us money to hire an outside firm to find out what happened." The firm Backman is referring to is Cyopsis, a Denver-based information technology forensic and investigations firm. Cyopsis has already made security changes for cheers liquor.

"Its the problem been patched up and we're pretty sure where it was and where it came from," said Backman. He could not release any further information because the case is still an open investigation with the Colorado Springs Police.

Some customers are not concerned with shopping at Cheers. Yolanda Robinson says she's not worried because she only uses cash. "I'm just scared that somebody might get a hold of my debit number or my credit card number," said Robinson.

Don Campbell says he only uses credit cards. "Credit cards do not deduct it, so if there's a fraud or something of that sort you notify them [credit card companies] so you don't pay until it worked out or not at all," said Campbell.

11 News has learned that several financial institutions are involved. Ent Federal Credit Union reported this week, at least 1,500 of its customers were affected.

Under federal law you're not responsible for fraudulent debit charges. But you have to report the charges within 60 days after they first appear on your bank statement.