General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo I invented this App where I can send dozens of people to secluded spots and then rob them.
Nope---just kidding about that---but....
Pokémon Go: armed robbers use mobile game to lure players into trap
Missouri suspects used apps geolocation feature to target unwitting victims, says police after another incident saw game lead player to dead body
Armed robbers used the game Pokémon Go to lure victims to an isolated trap in Missouri, police reported on Sunday.
At about 2am in OFallon, Missouri, officers responded to a robbery report that led them to four people, all local residents aged 16 to 18, in a black BMW in a CVS parking lot. The occupants tried to discard a handgun out of the car when an officer approached, said Sgt Bill Stringer. The officer then identified the four people as suspects of similar armed robberies described in St Louis and St Charles counties.
The adult suspects were charged with first degree robbery, a felony, and had bond set at $100,000 cash, Stringer said.
Stringer added that police believe the suspects used the phone app, which directs users to capture imaginary creatures superimposed onto the real world, to tempt players into secluded areas where they could be easily robbed. At a certain level in the game, he noted, players can congregate at local landmarks to join teams and battle.
Using the geolocation feature, Stringer said, the robbers were able to anticipate the location and level of seclusion of unwitting victims.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/10/pokemon-go-armed-robbers-dead-body
Lance Bass esquire
(671 posts)Chemisse
(30,828 posts)MirrorAshes
(1,262 posts)It's doing wonders for people's mental and physical health. People are going out and exploring just for the sake of it, and it's wonderful. I personally have been dealing with major grief over the last 2 months over the loss of my dog, and this has got me out walking again.
It's a phenomenon that will have many unintended consequences. But getting people to get out of their houses and go interact with the real world is a fantastic thing.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)they were having a blast. Obviously, you don't want to be in a secluded area at 2:00 am and you want to be careful about walking into something while playing but I don't think some creeps should scare people away from playing.
trumad
(41,692 posts)Not demonizing---just saying use your fricking head.