The Abu Dhabi Police on Monday warned mobile users about the negative safety and privacy risks associated with the popular app game Pokémon Go.

Since its release in July, the game has become one of the world’s most used mobile apps with over 100 million downloads worldwide. The game uses the players’ GPS address to locate and capture creatures that are called Pokémon.

Major General Amir Al Muhairi, director-general of Policing Operations, said that players trying to catch a Pokémon were putting themselves in danger, especially those who play the game while outside on the streets. Maj Gen Al Muhairi noted that the players were oblivious to their surroundings while playing the game and crossing the streets.

Abu Dhabi police in its warning said the game – Pokemon Go – which derivates from the phrase pocket Monester, works on switching on the Global Positioning System or GPS service on the smart phone. It then sends coordinates and information about the places the user is at. Major-General Omeir Al Muheiri, Director-General of the Police Operations of Abu Dhabi police, stressed that the game gathers information and data about the gamer accurately, which includes his location and the internet provider address (IP). The game, he said, can get into the user’s e-mail, its inbox and sent mails, and the websites the gamer has visited before. All this happens even before the gamer starts playing the game on his smart phone.

Maj Gen Al Muhairi also said that private homes could be disturbed by players trying to find a Pokeman, and cautioned against playing the game near sensitive sites that are usually off limits to the public.