Nine Nine Ninetendo
Cops hit by Pokemon crime wave
POKEMON Go players have been at the centre of a crime wave since the game came out last month.
Robberies, driving offences and a mass brawl have all been linked to the phone app which draws gamers to Pokestop locations on maps to catch characters such as Pikachu.
Some 290 incidents were recorded by forces across England and Wales since the smash hit game was launched in the UK on July 13, according to Freedom of Information Act figures.
Lancashire logged 39 incidents – the highest of 29 forces providing data. In Surrey, police were called out to reports of 30 people fighting after a Pokemon hunt turned into a brawl. And Officers in north Wales found a man with learning difficulties had invited children to his home “as he had loads at his address”. Both Greater Manchester Police and the London’s Met said Pokemon “lures” – which attract the creatures to the player – had been set up as robbers used the game to distract victims before snatching their mobile phones. Shares in Nintendo – a heavy investor in Pokemon – have rocketed recently, adding billions to the value of the company. A spokesman for game developer Niantic said: “We encourage all people to be aware of their surroundings and to play with friends or family, especially when exploring unfamiliar places.” Mr O’Reilly’s finishing time in the triathlon D’OH! A deer topples a cyclist as it makes a dash across a triathlon route.
But racer Shane O’Reilly refused to get in a rut – despite cracking his crash helmet and hurting his shoulder in the fall.
The 30-year-old from Blackrock, near Dublin, got up and finished the city’s swim, run and cycle challenge in two hours 25 minutes. He said: “The helmet definitely saved me.”
Photographer Erik Scraggs said: “I heard a rustling and turned to see a couple of stags running parallel to the road.”
About 1,000 people took part in the event through Phoenix Park, home to 500 deer.