Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, July 13, 2016
(UNDATED) - Many local players are joining the Pokémon Go craze. Released late last week, the free Android and iOS game connects to a phone GPS to help users, or “trainers,” catch Pokémon in their real-life surroundings.
The Pokémon Go app a new fitness craze, is a bit like a scavenger hunt, pinpointing on a map different Pokémon themed treasures and creatures you can find around you.
In the game, Pokémon players are flocking to public areas, such as murals, churches, parks or businesses to catch, train and battle characters like they did two decades ago. The difference is, now players have to physically walk to different locations to capture their characters.
The app has been downloaded more than 7.5 million times on Apple and Android devices since its release last Thursday.
But Law enforcement authorities are warning players to respect private property and keep aware of their surroundings.
In Brazil, Ind,. police say they have received calls to residences where a group of people have flocked to capture a Pokémon character.
According to the police, the resident who lived in the home was "freaked out" because they didn't know the people outside their home.
Police are warning game players to stay off private property and out of the roadways.
Police warn motorists that no matter how tempting it might be, driving and hunting don't mix and motorist need to be extra careful of pedestrians who might not be paying attention and walk into traffic.
Police in several states have begun issuing warnings to those caught using the app where they shouldn't be.
Although most will use the game for its intended purpose - getting outside and exercising - some will use the app for evil.
But perhaps the most serious incident related to the game thus far occurred in the St. Louis area over the weekend, where four teens are accused in multiple armed robberies in which they allegedly used Pokemon Go to target their victims, according to the O'Fallon Police Department in Missouri.
Police departments across the U.S. have taken to social media to warn those playing about the dangers.
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