I did not really grow up with Pokemon the way obviously a lot of people have. However, I do understand the social impact and relevance. And it seems those with bad intentions do as well. Recently there have been reports of muggers putting out beacons to lure unsuspecting players and holding them up at gun point. Like any major movement, there is great potential to exploit it. So if you or a friend or family member is a regular player, make sure to stay safe. Do not go alone, stay in public areas, and always make sure someone knows where you are. That said, if you keep aware of your surroundings and hang out in groups, you should be able to have a safe and fun experience with this incredible new app.
According to the O’Fallon Police Department, would-be thieves are using features in the game designed to lure more Pokemon to particular locations to lure players to these locations to rob them.
‘Many of you have asked how the app was used to rob victims, the way we believe it was used is you can add a beacon to a pokestop to lure more players. Apparently they were using the app to locate ppl standing around in the middle of a parking lot or whatever other location they were in,’ the department added.
Our advice? Don’t go walking around neighborhoods late at night for your Pokémon fix. That, or borrow some rules from trick-or-treating: go with a big group of fellow Pokémon fanatics, which will let more people share in the rewards and be a lot more fun for everyone involved. Above all else, just use some common sense. If you can collect Pokémon and hit up Pokéstops in public, crowded areas, we recommend doing that instead of shady spots at 2 a.m. Try to avoid some of the weirder areas, too.
Source: PC Magazine
