Story highlights
Pokémon GO is a reality game that is rapidly gaining global interest
The idea is to walk and catch Pokémon but it has been used in "inappropriate"areas according to some
Whether you’re a Pokémon Go enthusiast or not, only a few are blissfully unaware of the new smartphone game which has taken over everywhere.
Now, it has helped two unsuspecting gamers to catch out an attempted murder suspect.
The reality-game-meets-exercise app was instrumental in aiding two Marines to help local police officers catch an attempted murder suspect. Seth Ortega and his roommate were playing Pokémon Go close to Fullerton Park in California when they noticed a suspicious looking man approach a mom and her three kids.
“We saw the suspect when we were heading for the PokeStops at the park, on the way to our car. We had parked across from the museum before our adventure due to the high number of PokeStops on that street”, Seth told CNN. For the uninitiated, PokeStops are locations which are points of interest that allow a player to receive game bonuses.
Seth, who grew up playing Pokémon games and is a lifelong fan, added: “The suspect was being charged as a child annoyance.”
He also commented on his Facebook page that both he and his roommate, “were able to keep a calm head and not let things escalate”.
Following the incident, the Fullerton Police District were keen to remind Pokémon Go users to exercise caution when playing the game.
Pokémon Go’s profile has risen at lightning speed, giving WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat a run for their money. Users are spending over 43 minutes immersed in the game, according to data company Graphic. Not bad for creator Nintendo’s first venture into online gaming.
There has been controversy over the game which has taken users to areas considered “extremely inappropriate” such as the Unites States Holocaust Museum and Arlington National Cemetery.
If you don’t know how Pokémon Go works, there is now help at hand. Classified adverts website Craigslist has just listed a Pokémon Go enthusiast willing to help you get your game on.