On Tuesday, local Antwerp police called for care when playing the augmented reality Pokemon Go. The game is a novel sensation in making it possible for players to “catch” virtual creatures on their smartphone. As characters may hide in incongruous places such as roundabouts or railway lines, the hunt for Pokemon is not risk-free. The police warn, “Always pay great attention, also being alert to other game users and stick to the highway code.”
The Antwerp police confess to being fans of the revolutionary game. However they observe that chasing the creature can be dangerous. “Players will only have eyes for their screen, and so captivated will they be by the game that they may no longer be paying attention to the traffic,” warn the police.
The police are therefore asking that people pay attention and only play the game when walking, and never when driving or even when cycling.
Abroad, some Pokemon hunters have been stripped of their smartphone and wallet. The Antwerp police confirm, “There are also criminals using the game as a means to hunt down victims and steal from them.”
(Source: Belga)
