US Police Use Pokémon Go to Lure Fugitives

A US police force has invited a select number of people to its local station in order to catch a rare pocket monster in Pokémon Go, the catch being that those named on the exclusive list are actually the state’s most wanted fugitives. The Manchester Police Department in New Hampshire put out the call to the privileged few, soliciting them to catch the elusive flame-tailed Charizard, via its Facebook page.

“Attention all area #PokemonGo players: we have recently found out that there is a #Charizard in our booking area,” the Facebook post reads. “With the Charizard being such a rare character, we are only inviting a specific number of people. If your name appears on the following list you are one of the lucky ones. Come down to the station to capture Charizard. Hurry before the Charizard leaves!”

So, unless your name is on the 500-long list of the MPD’s most wanted, Manchester locals are out of luck. What are the chances of someone falsely surrendering to the MPD, posing as one of the city’s most wanted, just to bag themselves a Charizard?

While thus far, there have been no confirmed arrests by the MPD on the back of this strategy, Milford Police in Detroit did manage to inadvertently capture a 26-year-old male fugitive after he was recognised at a local police station chasing Pokémon.