In the past few weeks Pokemon Go has become a phenomenon and arguably the first video game to get it’s participants up and off the couch. While this is great, you must keep your own personal safety and security in mind as you go fourth and conquer the Pokemon universe.
Bad guys always look for the easiest targets and thus Pokemon Go participates are being robbed because they are to immersed in the game. Don’t stop playing just take a few of these tips in mind.
- Be aware of where you are and what is going on take time to look up and evaluate your surrounding while playing the game.
- Stop and look around for a moment before you catch the prize Pokemon character
- Keep your guard up and if a place or person makes you feel uneasy, trust that instinct and go the other way.
Below is an article I came across about a Pokemon Go Robbery. Watch the video and read the article to learn what to avoid..
Traveling across the land, searching far and wide hasn’t exactly worked out for all Pokémon Go users. After luring victims to their location with the new “augmented reality” app, four suspects have been arrested as police in O’Fallon, Mo., responded to a report of an armed robbery early Sunday.
The teens, whose ages range from 16 to 18, are suspected to be behind 10 to 11 armed robberies in St. Louis and St. Charles counties in which they allegedly used the app to bait victims, according to Sgt. Bill Stringer. Police also recovered a handgun from the suspects’ black BMW.
“The way we believe (the app) was used is you can add a beacon to a Pokéstop to lure more players,” the O’Fallon Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.
The app, which allows users to interact virtually with Pokémon characters nearby in the real world, has a “Lure Module” that players can use to attract both Pokemon and other users to their location. Pokéstops are locations where players can collect items and level up faster. No other Pokémon Go related crimes have been reported in the area, according to Stringer.
The app was released in July but has already caused issues around people’s physical safety, such as driving while using the app.
“It’s causing people to be distracted. They’re going around catching these pikachus,” Stringer said. “Clearly, it’s a distraction.” — More
I too have downloaded this game, I don’t play as regularly as most, but it do like the interaction of the real world and the game world. I also see how easy it can be for you to become a target.
Use caution and alert while enjoying this game. Your personal safety is far more important than a game or any activity on your smartphone. Good Luck in your Pokemon rendezvous and stay safe out there!