Armed Robbers Using Pokemon GO to Target Victims in Missouri

[Stryder721]

So in the wake of Pokemon GO's success, armed robbers in Missouri are now using the app to target victims. The Verge reports that the robbers would use the app to lure unsuspecting people in and rob them at gun point by placing a beacon from within the app. The O'Fallen Missouri Police Department has made a statement on facebook about the whole ordeal. 

 

Quote

" Many of you have heard of Pokemon Go, but for those that have not, it is a type of Geo Caching game where you find and capture Pokemon characters at various locations. If you use this app (or other similar type apps) or have children that do we ask you to please use caution when alerting strangers of your future location." - Taken from the Police Departments Facebook page.

The culprits were able to rob four people all in the age range of 16-18 years of age, and warned people to exercise extreme caution when your giving out personal information or going out. 

 

The robberies happened at 2 o'clock at night making their car, a black BMW, very hard to spot. Thankfully the handgun was recovered and the Culprits arrested.

 

Quote

" **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.** " <--Explaining the use of beacons and how it shows the location of players around the beacon. Source: The Police Department's Facebook Statement.

 

Quote

“Using the geolocation feature,” Stringer said, “the robbers were able to anticipate the location and level of seclusion of unwitting victims.” Taken from The Guardian.

 

The adult suspects were charged with first degree robbery, a felony, and had bond set at $100,000 cash, Stringer said. 

 

To everyone who uses the app and in general, please be safe! 

Regards Stryder

 

News Article:http://www.theverge.com/2016/7/10/12142434/pokemon-go-armed-robberies-missouri

Facebook Statement: 

Source 2: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/10/pokemon-go-armed-robbers-dead-body

[Bouzoo]

I am not even surprised. Tbh I'd be surprised if no one did it.

When you have millions of people walking around just focusing on finding a pokemon while not being aware of their suroundings, it's practically calling people to exploit the situation. 

[Zodiark1593]

I'll stick to my 3ds.

[Castdeath97]

What are you doing in 2am? Who plays at such bloody time. Almost every incident I have seen so far involved with Pokemon go include negligence/risky behaviour from players.

 

 

[Deletist_Jerk]

21 minutes ago, Castdeath97 said:

What are you doing in 2am? Who plays at such bloody time. Almost every incident I have seen so far involved with Pokemon go include negligence/risky behaviour from players.

 

 

Culprits were teenagers...so what are the teenagers doing at 2AM? Apparently committing a crime. 

 

I can't say much, I'm posting this at almost 4AM...tis the life of an insomniac. 

[kuddlesworth9419]

Fucking America. You are all bat shit craz.

[Castdeath97]

13 minutes ago, Deletist_Jerk said:

Culprits were teenagers...so what are the teenagers doing at 2AM? Apparently committing a crime. 

 

I can't say much, I'm posting this at almost 4AM...tis the life of an insomniac. 

I'm speaking about the victims not the culprits.

[Lethal Seraph]

Well... being alone in the middle of nowhere at 2AM does ask for trouble. 

[DrMikeNZ]

54 minutes ago, Bouzoo said:

You'd be surprised how many adults play it, hell I'd say most of them are adults. 

A decent portion of people from the Gameboy era. A lot of people at my work play.

Pokemon Go leads a lot of people to places where they probably shouldn't be going, including police stations and gang headquarters.

 

I am sure we were all told the basic rules as kids though

- Don't take candy from strangers

- Don't get in cars with strangers

- Don't go to strange pokestops which have active lure modules

[Crazy Wozza]

Well what is a pokemon adventure without Team Rocket...

[Suika]

My brother went out playing Pokemon GO yesterday evening, likely very close to where this happened.

 

lol

[Stryder721]

It's surprising to see the lengths that criminals will go to just to rob someone or commit a crime. I myself catch a lot of Pokemon GO players because people think my yard is a road thanks gps 

[thatguyjerry]

2 minutes ago, Stryder721 said:

It's surprising to see the lengths that criminals will go to just to rob someone or commit a crime. I myself catch a lot of Pokemon GO players because people think my yard is a road thanks gps 

the lengths? I mean if anything this simplified the crime not made it more difficult

[NumLock21]

2 hours ago, Suika said:

My brother went out playing Pokemon GO yesterday evening, likely very close to where this happened.

 

lol

So you will continue to lol, if this happened to your bro.

lol

 

[pyrojoe34]

This will happen with STRAVA(biking app) too. People will have their rides public and post their bikes to their profiles. People will use the gps info from the rides to find out where people live then go steal their $5k bike.

[Centurius]

Gotta catch 'em all.

[MrDynamicMan]

There was also a guy who witnessed a murder while streaming. He was super rattled up about it and cut the stream to call the police. The next day has lost his job as an uber driver, cuz of people saying he was streaming during work hours. (he wasn't, btw.)

Everyone should see filthy Frank's video about GO. Surpirsingly accurate.

[jubair194]

People need to realise that the world hasn't just suddenly changed since Pokemon has come out. Be careful and watch where you are going people!

[dizmo]

Eh it has a huge following already, some of the people were bound to get into tough situations.

I'm just waiting for people to wander into less than ideal neighborhoods. It's not the games fault, but purely the user.

For Nintendo's sake I hope this doesn't cast a bad light on the game.

 

On 2016-07-11 at 2:37 AM, Lethal Seraph said:

Well... being alone in the middle of nowhere at 2AM does ask for trouble. 

But it shouldn't.