Designated as a Pokéstop, Australian police station has a funny message for Pokémon GO trainers

Filipino fans of the Pokémon franchise are eager to join the hunt to catch 'em all ahead of the local release of the latest game, Pokémon Go—especially since fellow enthusiasts from the land down under are already getting the full Pokémon Trainer experience. 

The popularity of the augmented-reality game in Australia has prompted the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services to post a message on their Facebook page, addressed to people on the look out for a wild Sandshrew. 

Apparently, Pokémon Go designated the Darwin Police Station as a Pokestop. 

"You don't actually have to step inside in order to gain the pokeballs," the message reads. "It's also a good idea to look up, away from your phone and both ways before crossing the street. That Sandshrew isn't going anywhere fast."

Through Google Maps, Mark Bruce has shared a photo of the peninsula where the Darwin Police Station is located and it looks like a pretty beautiful hangout for Sandshrews.

Meanwhile, some Filipino gamers have found hacks that allows them to play the game sooner—and this has also prompted the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to issue their own public service announcement to Pokémon Trainers. —Aya Tantiangco/JST, GMA News