Montreal police urge Pokémon Go players to catch safely

Montreal police joined the chorus of law-enforcement officials around the country urging Pokémon Go players to keep it safe when trying to catch them all.

The massively popular mobile game encourages players to hunt for critters around their city with their phones.

Police said no "major incidents" like collisions have happened in Montreal because of the game, but they're paying attention to the phenomenon.

"As soon as your attention goes to it, you have tunnel vision and you aren't aware of your surroundings. So it becomes a major concern for us," said Insp. André Durocher.

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"If you want to do it, don't play on the street. Stay on the sidewalk and stay with your friends."

The game can cause large crowds to form spontaneously when a rare Pokémon appears in a part of the city. They can also form in areas that boast lots of Pokestops — places where players can fill up on gear.

This appeared to happen on Monday night near Atwater Metro station.

According to posts on social media, police later showed up to keep the crowds on the sidewalk.

At least four other Canadian police forces — Toronto, Sudbury, Calgary and Regina — have come out with similar messages.

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Other government agencies in Canada, like Correctional Services, warned players about trespassing on their property.