Austin man robbed while playing Pokemon Go

An Austin man trying to catch Pokemon ended up becoming prey himself.

The man was robbed at gunpoint around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday while playing Pokemon Go. A white male approached the victim while he was sitting at a bus stop, pointed a gun at him and demanded his wallet, according to KEYE in Austin.

Austin police caught a man with the same description running down the street, who officers later identified as Corey Charlton. According to KVUE-TV in Austin, the man initially put his hands up after he tossed a wallet into a trash can.

Listed in the Travis County online jail records, Charlton is being held on $50,000 bond.

Following the incident, Austin police held a press conference to warn Pokemon Go users of possible dangers.

“Any time you are fixated on something else, like a game, that’s really involved like this, you can become an easy target for criminals,” Austin Police spokeswoman Destiny Winston said. “Just be aware of your surroundings. Be vigilant.”

She offered tips for Pokemon Go users. She said for parents to know exactly where their kids are going, do not go onto private property or unfamiliar places and do not trespass on other people’s yards. She also cautioned against playing the game around government buildings and vehicles.

“Your attempt to try and capture a Pokemon could be considered suspicious activity,” she said.

In Missouri, police apprehended four suspects whom they believe are responsible for multiple robberies of Pokemon Go players. O’Fallon Missouri police said the suspects targeted users through the app.

@bryanbastible

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 6:03 PM with the headline "Austin man robbed while playing Pokemon Go."