The Pokémon-Go craze has infiltrated smart phones all over the world in the past week… getting couch potatoes up and walking around everywhere. In addition to combating the obesity crisis in America, it has sparked business, driving sales to local shops, near Pokémon-Go hot-spots. However, in those last seven days, there has been a bizarre uptick in assaults and robberies in our area.
On Wednesday, a pair of young men were jumped in front of one of the augmented reality games hot spot outside the People’s United Bank on Main Street in Smithtown. The Suffolk County Police department reported that at approximately 10:40 PM, the two men (a 21-year-old and a 19-year-old) were approached by a group (four males and one female) who wanted the two men to vacate the Pokémon Go hot spot. Upon refusing, the group of men punched both of the young men in the face and fled the scene.
A 19-year old man who was also playing Pokémon-Go, was robbed in Ronkonkoma, on Wednesday. The young man playing the game on his Apple iPhone, at approximately 5 PM, along Lake Shore Drive in Lake Ronkonkoma when a gray four-door sedan pulled up beside him. One man in a group of at least three people inside, sitting in the front passenger seat demanded the phone. Authorities reported that the victim first refused, but quickly handed over the phone when a passenger in the rear seat pulled a gun to threaten him.
The real scare came after a joint safety announcement between Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Police Department Commissioner Tim Sini and Paul Alonzo of Parents for Megan’s Law. The two part notice first warned parents of the games potential dangers. The second portion was a request by County Executive Bellone, who has called upon the developers of “Pokémon Go” to continuously monitor its user registry for sex offenders.
“Safety measures must be followed to prevent predators from preying on unsuspecting victims… We are calling to the developers of this app to join a group of social networking companies who have agreed to use New York State’s e-STOP registry to ensure the safety of all users.” – Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
The letter was submitted by County Executive Bellone to the games developers, requesting them to work with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), ensuring the App complies with the provisions of The Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act (also called e-STOP). To be clear, County Executive Bellone, the Suffolk County Police Department and Parents for Megan’s Law are not opposed to the game. They are simply trying to raise awareness for gamers to exercise safety measures.
The County Executive and other officials recommend some important tips to assure safe gameplay:
- Parents and legal guardians should regularly talk to their children about stranger danger, and create guidelines of where they can and cannot go.
- Drivers are to be alert at all times, drive responsibility, and keep their eyes on the road. Eliminate all distractions.
- Pay attention where you are walking while accessing the application. Do not enter unauthorized and restricted areas, such as streets with heavy traffic, hospitals, construction zones and private properties. You do not have to physically enter a building in order to play the game.
- Adhere to the law and use common sense.