DETROIT (Reuters) - Advance Auto Parts Inc (AAP.N: Quote, Profile, Research), a leading auto parts retailer, said on Monday that a "network intrusion" had exposed financial information on up to 56,000 of its customers and was the subject of a criminal investigation.

The Roanoke, Virginia-based retailer said that 14 of its stores, including locations in Georgia, Ohio, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, Virginia and New York had been affected.

The company said it was conducting its own investigation and cooperating in a criminal probe of the matter.

Advance Auto Parts did not specify how customer financial information had been exposed or how access had been gained to its network. A spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment.

Earlier this month, two grocery store chains owned by Belgium-based Delhaize Group SA (DELB.BR: Quote, Profile, Research) reported that credit card and debit card numbers had been stolen, resulting in reports of some 1,800 fraudulent purchases.

U.S. retail group TJX Cos Inc (TJX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) disclosed last year that data from 45.7 million credit and debit cards were stolen by hackers over a period of 18 months, as well as personal information for 451,000 people.

(Reporting by Kevin Krolicki; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)