Pokemon: The good, bad and ugly

Pokemon Go has taken the world by storm, as thousands of enthusiasts roam the world battling, capturing and training Pokemon.But it's not all fun - the app is also being blamed for a string of strange incidents, crimes, accidents, and even shattered relationships.
According to the BBC, for example, a 19-year-old American woman on the trail of a Pokemon stumbled upon the body of a person who had been dead for less than 24 hours. The game has also been a factor in a number of crimes.
In Maryland, for instance, university students were robbed by an armed suspect on Tuesday while holding their phones out to play the game, and across the United States, in California, two Pokemon fans reported being robbed and carjacked as they played.
The app has also led to a number of accidents as distracted drivers take their attention and eyes off the road while on the hunt for Pokemon. In one case, a driver playing the game while behind the wheel crashed into a tree in Auburn, New York.
The incidents have prompted safety tips from across the US - including New York, Miami, Austin and Los Angeles - reminding people to take common sense precautions such as playing inwell-lit areas, being cautious of being lured into a bad situation, playing in pairs, and avoiding use of the app while driving or riding a vehicle of any kind, even a bicycle.
On the other hand, the app has helped police officers build stronger bonds with the communities they serve, and in some cases even capture wanted criminals.In one incident - which has been liked over 4,000 times since being shared on Twitter - a police officer in Fall River, Massachusetts, was photographed playing Pokemon Go with local residents. "They were able to talk about a common subject and it broke all barriers between them," Detective Nelson Sousa told local television station WPRI.
In California, Pokemon players managed to play a key role in nabbing a potentially dangerous suspect, when Pokemon enthusiasts alerted players to a suspicious character who was following women and improperly touching children. They swiftly alerted police and detained the man until officers arrived.
The suspect, it was later revealed, was being sought by police for a number of offences, including attempted murder.
In perhaps the most bizarre twist to the Pokemon Go saga, the app is being blamed for relationship problems stemming from 'addiction' to the game.
"I used to have a girlfriend until Pokemon Go," one frustrated man tweeted. "Now she is driving around the neighbourhood at 5 in the morning looking for nine tails."
In some instances, people have been faced with ultimatums to stop playing the game - not always with the intended results.
"My ex-girlfriend said I had to choose between her and Pokemon Go," another man tweeted. "Notice I said 'ex'."
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE