Pokémon Go player assaulted and robbed while livestreaming

Even though its userbase has been steadily declining and I had my own reasons to delete the app, there are still a lot of people playing Pokémon Go.

When player Rickeybot was livestreaming himself playing the game while walking around New York’s Central Park at 12:13 AM on Monday morning, his camera captured footage of someone assaulting and robbing him.

The culprit is seen approaching him from behind and striking a blow to his neck, making Rickeybot fall to the ground with his livestreaming camera pointing up. Because of this, the robber’s face was caught on camera and he can be seen running away with the gear. Immediately the livestream chat picks up on what just happened with messages like “OMG” and “rip”.

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Ars Technica has confirmed the incident with the New York Police Department, reporting that the player reported the assault and theft of three smartphones he was holding while playing the game.

The incident follows reports from a month ago of armed criminals using the app to lure unsuspecting players to a specific Pokéstop and robbing them on the spot. It shows how playing games in the real world can come with real danger, and that it’s important to pay attention to your surroundings. Be safe out there.