WASHINGTON — Three University of Maryland students were playing Pokemon Go when they were robbed of their cellphones while walking on the campus Tuesday night, according to police.
University of Maryland Police said that a total of four people were robbed in three incidents between 9 and 10:15 p.m. on the College Park campus. The victims were each robbed of their cellphones.
The fourth victim, who was not a student but was staying on campus for a program, was not playing the popular online game. He did however have a cellphone out to help him navigate across campus, police said.
One of the students was robbed outside of Tydings Hall. A weapon was suggested but not seen. A pair of students and the campus visitor were robbed at gunpoint near Queen Anne’s Hall, campus police said.
No one was hurt.
Police have not found the robber, who was described as male, wearing a black mask and dark clothing. Only one person is believed to be responsible for the robberies.
The game allows players to create a location for other players to find. But police don’t know if the victims in Tuesday night’s robberies were lured to the spot where they were caught unawares, said Sgt. Rosanne Hoaas.
Hoaas said students can play the app and have fun, but they need to stay alert and aware of their surroundings. She suggested that students play with a friend and stick to well-lit areas. If they see anything suspicious, they are asked to call police immediately.
“We’re not immune to this. This is not just a University of Maryland campus issue,” Hoaas said.
Still, robberies on the campus are a relatively rare occurrence.
Last year, the campus police investigated one attempted robbery, which occurred during the day. And earlier this year, police investigated a drug-related robbery in one of the residence halls, Hoaas said.
Anyone with information about the cellphone robberies is asked to call police at 301-405-3555.
Pokemon Go encourages players to venture through the real world to find Pokemon. Police have reported players who have been robbed, locked in cemeteries and one even located a body in a river. The National Park Service has said that playing the game near the memorials on the National Mall is not appropriate and the game is not allowed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial in Poland.
