Shocking stats show Pokemon Go game blamed for domestic abuse cases and wave of muggings
The popular monster-collecting challenge, loved by adults and kids, was name-checked in dozens of police reports since July 2016.
LAST year’s Pokemon Go craze turned violent with the mobile phone game blamed in domestic abuse cases and a wave of muggings.
Shocking new crime stats show the monster-collecting challenge loved by adults and kids was name-checked in dozens of police reports since booming in popularity in July 2016.
Exposed police logs included reports of violent rows, robbery and even a case of indecent exposure.
The app allows users to “catch” monsters from 1990s computer game with their phone’s camera in competition against other users.
But the apparently harmless fun ended with police dealing with couples falling out in bitter rows, snatched mobiles and a Pokemon fan in West Yorkshire flashing his willy at a young woman.
The female victim heard “a male voice behind her say ‘are you playing pokemon go?’ The complaint turned around to see the suspect standing with his penis out of trousers masturbating.”
The suspect was never caught.
As well as a spate of violent muggings, police in the West Midlands had to break up two domestic disturbances where couples had fallen out over Pokemon.
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And in July 2016 Surrey Police had to break up a brawl involving 30 people that had been started over the game.
Last night the Lib Dems, who exposed the logs under Freedom of Information, branded them “deeply concerning.”
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said: “Hearing that serious crimes are being committed using Pokémon is worrying, especially for me as a dad with young kids who love the game.”
He added: “It clearly shows that nothing is 100 per cent safe.”