Is 'Pokemon Go' Still Safe to Play? Police Say Armed Robbers Use Game to Target Victims

"Pokemon Go" is the latest game to take the world by storm but police officials have warned users noting that armed robbers are using the app to prey on players who will be their victims.

According to a statement by the Missouri Police, armed robberies were carried out by suspects who lured players to different areas using the "Pokemon Go" app in order to carry out the crime. Officials said that a number of armed robberies took place in the city in the early hours of July 10, Game Spot reported.

'Pokemon Go' Players Warned by Police Officials

The O'Fallon Missouri Police Department took to Facebook to make the announcement and warn other "Pokemon Go" players. The post reads: "This morning at approximately 2 am we responded to the report of an Armed Robbery near the intersection of Highway K and Feise Road. We were able to locate four suspects occupying a black BMW a short time later and recover a handgun."

The post added that the suspects are believed to be linked to multiple armed robberies in St. Louis and St. Charles and that they have targeted the victims via the smart phone app "Pokemon Go." The police department continued to explain that "Pokemon Go" is a type of Geo Coaching game where people will be able to find and capture Pokemon characters.

The police officials continued to warn that people should be cautious when alerting strangers about the player's future location since the app is also being used by children.

Police Officials Explain How 'Pokemon Go' Was Used by Armed Robbers

Due to the many Facebook users asking how "Pokemon Go" was used in the robberies, the police department said, "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 people standing around in the middle of a parking lot or whatever other location they were in."

However, a Facebook user who claimed that he was one of the victims of the armed robberies said that he was not lured in the area but he wandered away from a Pokestop.

"Pokemon Go" has been the number one free app in the Apple store since its release last July 6.