Police: Be smart when playing Pokémon Go
Police departments and safety agencies are warning players of Pokémon Go to stay safe and alert as hysteria over the popular mobile game swells.
The game, which launched last week for iPhones and Android devices, is based on the classic cartoon and video game series. Players use a GPS map to locate cartoon creatures called Pokémon. When a character is tapped, the app launches the smartphone’s camera for a mini-game where the Pokémon appear to be moving in the real world.
Pokémon Go has surged to become a viral hit, as players seek out unique hiding spots for Pokémon. Since launch, the game has topped 7.5 million downloads and pulled in an average of $1.6 million a day in revenue, according to estimates from research firm SensorTower.
The game requires players to move and pay attention to the touch-screen as they seek out Pokémon, prompting agencies to urge players to stay aware of their surroundings and be careful.
The warnings come during a week of heightened tensions around policing and race, following the shooting deaths of two black men by police last week in Baton Rouge and a suburb of Minneapolis, followed by the fatal shootings of five police officers in Dallas by a suspect who said he was targeting white police officers, according to Dallas police.
“Reports of close calls associated with playing Pokémon Go already are rolling in,” reads a statement released Tuesday by the National Safety Council. “The Council urges gamers to consider safety over their scores before a life is lost.”
Along with pedestrians distracted by their quest to find that rare Pokémon, agencies are warning about distracted driving. In New York, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles is urging drivers to stay off their phones.
“What is meant to be a fun game can have tragic real-world consequences if you’re playing it while driving or crossing the street,” Terri Egan, executive deputy commissioner for New York’s DMV, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, some police departments are reporting increased calls for trespassing or suspicious activity related to Pokémon Go. The game features Pokéstops, landmarks such as statues or churches where players can stop to retrieve virtual items. Users may receive different items or capture different creatures depending on the time of day, too.
“Deputies have located numerous individuals on business, church, and government properties at all hours of the night, when these places are closed to the public,” reads a Facebook post from the sheriff ’s department in Goochland County, Va.
Because players can find new characters at all hours, and ingame items such as Lure Modules boost the chances of discovering Pokémon, players are warned to be aware of their surroundings. In Missouri, four teens were arrested for allegedly using the app to lure potential robbery victims.
“Reports of close calls associated with playing Pokémon Go already are rolling in. The Council urges gamers to consider safety over their scores before a life is lost.” Statement released Tuesday by the National Safety Council