Lake County teens playing 'Pokemon Go' robbed
Two Lake County teenagers were robbed of their mobile devices while playing "Pokemon Go," authorities said Friday.
Lake County sheriff's deputies were summoned to Morton Drive and Carol Lane in an unincorporated residential neighborhood near Lake Villa at 10:08 p.m. Thursday on a report of an armed robber. Police said the teens were not injured.
Detective Christopher Covelli said the investigation showed the brothers, ages 14 and 19, were robbed while playing the augmented-reality application. Covelli said it was the first report to the sheriff's office of a "Pokemon Go"-related robbery since the app's release last week.
Police said the brothers were walking when what was described as a dark-colored, older-model four-door car parked near them. A white man and a black man, both believed to be in their early 20s, exited the car and approached the teens.
"We don't know that the (robbery suspects) used the app to their advantage," Covelli said. "What we know is that the teens were walking around on their phones playing the game when the vehicle drove by them suspiciously on more than one occasion before the two males exited and committed the robbery."
Authorities said the black man displayed a firearm and took a phone from one victim. The teens told police the black man was not wearing a shirt and had dreadlocks.
Police said the other teen's device was stolen by the unarmed white robbery suspect who purportedly had spiky hair. Both men fled in the car.
"Pokemon Go" players look at their devices while going to places known as Poke Stops and Pokemon "gyms" that have included cemeteries, shopping centers, residential neighborhoods, churches and libraries. The device's GPS helps players find Pokemon - fictional creatures with various characteristics and strengths - wherever they are in the real world.
Along with "capturing" virtual creatures, the app allows for teams of players to battle for control of the gyms. Battles are won by attacking an opponent's Pokemon until its health is depleted.
However, there have been reports from across the country about players being robbed while engrossed in the game. And while some businesses have embraced suddenly becoming Poke Stops or Pokemon gyms and drawing players, others want to be removed from the location-aware app created by San Francisco-based Niantic Inc.
"Even though you're playing the game, you truly have to be aware of your surroundings and know what's going on around you, and know that you're only going on property that you're allowed to be on (and) you're not entering any buildings that you don't have express permission to be in," Covelli said. "There are some general concepts for people to consider while playing the game."
Anyone with information about the Lake Villa-area robbery is asked to call the sheriff's office at (847) 549-5200 or Lake County CrimeStoppers at (847) 662-2222.
Niantic reports the app has been downloaded more than 15 million times since its release July 6.