Traveling across the land, searching far and wide and trying to catch them all haven’t exactly worked out for all Pokémon Go users. Since its release, reports of injuries and robberies from playing the ‘augmented reality’ application have surfaced all over the world.
In Missouri, USA, the game was used by four teens to lure nearly a dozen victims into armed robberies, police and media reports said. The teens, whose ages range from 16 to 18, are suspected to be behind 10 to 11 armed robberies, which they allegedly used the app to bait victims.
Pokémon Go warns players to keep aware of their surroundings during their virtual treasure hunt, but after only a few days since its release it has already led people into a string of bizarre incidents. Social media buzzed with reports of players who suffered minor injuries from tripping and falling while glued to their cell phones and minor incidents while driving and looking for Pokemon.
Mike Schultz, a 21-year-old communications graduate from New York, took a spill on his skateboard as he stared at his phone while cruising for critters early Thursday. Kyrie Tompkins, a 22-year-old freelance web designer, fell on the sidewalk and twisted her ankle while wandering in downtown Maine. In Wyoming on Friday, the game led a teenager to a dead body in a river.
“We encourage all people playing Pokemon Go to be aware of their surroundings and to play with friends when going to new or unfamiliar places,” Pokemon Company International and Niantic told Fortune.
The game was the most downloaded free app on Apple’s app store while Nintendo’s shares surged nearly 25% for their biggest daily gains in history after Pokemon Go’s takeoff.
