Police are reminding the public to be careful meeting strangers after a teenager was allegedly attacked during a Pokémon Go meetup in Metro Vancouver.
Authorities said the 19-year-old woman met a man online and they arranged to play the popular smartphone game together in Delta’s Annieville Park shortly before midnight Wednesday.
“The arrangement was so that they could catch Pokémon together,” Acting Sgt. Sarah Swallow told CTV News.
“The man made some sexual advances towards her but she was able to run away and report the incident to police.”
Officers responded and were able to find and arrest a 31-year-old suspect, who is facing one charge of sexual assault.
Swallow said the victim wasn’t injured, but was left shaken up by what happened.
Given the massive popularity of Pokémon Go, police urged the public to use the incident as a reminder to always be cautious when meeting people you don’t know.
“This extends beyond Pokémon, this extends to anybody that’s meeting anybody they’ve met online,” Swallow said.
Police recommend people arrange to meet in a busy, public location that’s well-lit, and to avoid going alone if possible. They should also be sure to tell someone where they’re going, who they’re meeting and when they’re expected to return, Swallow said.
