09 Aug 5 Tips to Stay Safe while playing Pokémon Go
Gotta Catch Em All: How Pokémon Go is Encouraging Crime and How You Can Stay Safe
Pokémon Go has swept the nation and even the entire world… and while the popular app may be the best thing since peanut butter and jelly sandwiches … police officers are warning that its presence, though incredibly entertaining for gamers, is also keeping criminals entertained for entirely different reasons. The Pokemon Go app uses your GPS and Google Maps to look for Pokemon, Pokestops, and Gyms. These are all found in real life locations. Usually city parks and cultural areas have the most pokemon traffic. Whether you are an avid Pokémon chaser, homeowner on the sidelines, single adult, or a young adolescent, here are 5 Tips to Stay Safe while playing Pokémon Go and attempting to catch ‘em all…
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings at All Times.
It can be really easy to get caught up in the fun and adventure of looking for your next catch but getting too caught up can be dangerous. There have been countless instances of gamers both young and old who have been targeted by robbers because they were so involved in their gaming experience. Failing to recognize your surroundings can lead to a bad situation. Don’t be so overly consumed in gameplay that you forget to remain alert while you are enjoying the hunt. Two men walked off a cliff near San Diego looking for a Pokemon.
2. Don’t Go Anywhere You Normally Wouldn’t Go.
When was the last time you were alone and thought “Gee, I want to take a midnight stroll down that dead-end, unlit alley?” Probably never, right? Right. Thus, if your Pokémon Go app wants to send you down a darkened alley, into a shady neighborhood or anywhere else that you normally would not travel, let that pocket monster go. Gamers from all over the world have been quick to point out the many strange and not-so-safe places that Pokémon Go has tried to send them. One player ended up in a graveyard. Another ended up on private property. No Pokémon, even elusive water species, are worth being in danger. When in doubt, steer clear and move on. Would you enter a cemetery if there were 3-5 Pokéstops and lures at night?
3. Remember That Even Though You Share an Interest… People playing Pokemon are Still Strangers.
Pokémon Go’s social features make it even more fun to get lost in gameplay. Besides, competition can be healthy. However, it can be easy to forget that gamers on this wildly interactive game are still strangers to you. Be careful not to get yourself lured into a dangerous situation. Use your common sense and never leave home without it.
4. If You Feel You Are Being Followed… Call 911.
Yes… calling 911 will exit you from your gameplay but not calling 911 could become a much bigger problem. It is not secret that criminals like to take advantage of distracted people and that they will take any opportunity to find vulnerability. Preventing trouble is key but if you find yourself unable to avoid it, always air on the side of caution. Even if it turns out that the shady stranger tailing you was just going in your general direction, if you have a bad feeling… it is better to be safe than sorry.
5. Protect Your Home from Those Trying to Catch More Than Pokémon.
There have already been so many instances of PokeStops being placed on home addresses. While many of these are on landmarks, some homes were once churches and businesses which put private property at risk. One resident grew nervous as to why so many cars were piling up outside his gate and called police only to find that the gatherers were simply showing up to get more pokeballs and look for more pokemon. While this may have seemed funny to the gamers, it certainly wasn’t funny to the homeowner who is never sure if the surplus of lurkers at 2 a.m. are there to catch Pokémon or catch items in their home. Arming your home with an alarm system means never having to worry when it is time for lights out, whether that is because of an app or real-world worries. Contact us today to find out how we can help keep you protected with home security options that fit your family’s unique needs.
Taking precautions to keep yourself safe while gaming ensures that you stick around one more day to enjoy all the fun of the happy hunting and the addictive adventure but remember… it is not only other people who you have to worry about. Perhaps San Francisco Police Capt., Raj Vaswani summed that up for us best when he said, “Do not run into trees, meters, and things that are attached to the sidewalk; they hurt.”
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