Vancouver Police have received reports of large groups of people seen gathering in parks and on city streets and other public areas, at all hours of the day and night.

The groups appear to be searching for something, many holding cell phones in their air, while others appear to be in a zombie-like state, eyes glued to their phones, as they walk down the street or ride their bikes and skateboards.

Our initial investigation shows they are in pursuit of brightly coloured creatures that don’t appear to be from our world. They head to “gyms” and “Pokéstops,” where they are often seen congregating, in search of the elusive “Pokémon.”

Parents are being asked to remind their kids of some real world basic safety tips – which apply to game-players of all ages — while on the hunt for Pokémon:

Look up – be aware of your surroundings. Are you about to step into traffic? Are you going to crash into someone or something? You could end more than just your game. It is very easy for any stranger to know your gathering spots. Make sure you go with a group, and that younger kids tell parents or another adult where they’re going. Say no to distracted game playing – don’t play while riding your bike, skateboard, scooter, or while driving. Vancouver has lots of public space. Don’t go on or in private property.

The Pokémon Go invasion in Vancouver has begun. Stay safe and have fun catching Pokémon!