Police warn drivers: Please don't stop to catch Pokemon

CONYERS, Ga. — The game "Pokemon Go" is the hottest app to have right now, but it's also a concern for metro area police departments.

The game works like a treasure hunt. It uses your GPS location and as you explore, Pokemon characters will pop up, you grab them and that will increase your ranking.

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Police told Channel 2's Craig Lucie that they're concerned that people are playing it when they are driving.

“There is a PokeStop where people are pausing in the roadway to collect that,” Conyers police Capt. Jackie Dunn said.

They are also playing while they are alone, and Dunn warns it may take the player into a bad area of town.

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“We’ve seen characters take you on private property,” she said.

Police warned parents to keep an extra eye on children playing the game, as well.

“We could see children wandering away from parents,” Dunn said.

Lucie turned on the game on his phone and found several PokeStops in a Conyers cemetery, and a Pokemon gym where players to go to battle to win a Pokemon over a Civil War hero’s grave.

He also found PokeStops at local fire stations, restaurants and parks.

Several different police departments are encouraging people to play in groups, respect park hours and always be aware of your surroundings. They also said if you play while you drive, you will get a texting and driving ticket.

Cox Media Group