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Cops: Pokémon Go used to lure victims of armed robbery spree

Four suspected; police say they — *sunglasses* — caught them all

Owen S. Good is a longtime veteran of video games writing, well known for his coverage of sports and racing games.

Police in O'Fallon, Mo. believe four suspects used Pokémon Go to set up a string of armed robberies over the past few days in the St. Louis area.

The suspects are in custody but haven't been identified because they have yet to be formally charged, the O'Fallon P.D. said in this statement on the department's Facebook page. Explaining how Pokémon Go was or could have been involved, police believe the suspects added a beacon outside a Pokéstop within the game to lure players to the area.

"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," O'Fallon cops said in the statement.

The four suspects in question were also wanted for multiple holdups in St. Louis and St. Charles County, northwest of the city. A news release implied Pokémon Go was used in some of those robberies as well.

"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," the O'Fallon P.D. advised.


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