Four Missouri teenagers have been accused of using Nintendo’s new “Pokemon GO” smartphone app this weekend to lure victims into an armed robbery.
“The way we believe it was used is you can add a beacon to a ‘Poke Stop’ to lure more players,” an O’Fallon, Missouri, Police Department spokesperson wrote on Facebook on Sunday. “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.”
“Pokemon GO” is a free “augmented reality” game for iOS and Android smart devices in which players must physically move around the real world in order to capture Pokemon (short for pocket monsters), which are fantastical creatures from the ever-popular video game/collectible card game/anime franchise of the same name.
“This morning at approximately 2 a.m. we responded to the report of an Armed Robbery near the intersection of Highway K and Feise Road,” police wrote. “We were able to locate four suspects occupying a black BMW a short time later and recover a handgun.”
The suspects have since been arrested.
Here’s the info on the three adults of the group, who have been charged by the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with Robbery 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action:
Shane Michael Baker is an 18 year old Wentzville resident
Brett William Miller is a 17 year old St. Peters resident
Jamine James D. Warner is an 18 year old O’Fallon resident
The fourth suspect is 16, and thus, a minor. He was transferred to the St. Charles County Juvenile Justice Center. The teens are also suspects in multiple other armed robberies in both St. Louis and St. Charles Counties.
Bond for the adults was set in the amount of $100,000 cash only. The suspects will be transferred to the St. Charles County Department of Corrections.
“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 cops advised.