The “Pokemon Go” craze
across the U.S. has people wandering into yards, driveways, cemeteries and even
an off-limits police parking lot in search of cartoon monsters, prompting
warnings that trespassers could get arrested or worse, especially if they cross
paths with an armed property owner.
Since the release of
the smartphone game last week, police have gotten a flurry of calls from
residents about possible burglars or other strangers prowling the neighborhood.
So far there have been
no reports of arrests or assaults on trespassers playing the game, whose object
is use the phone’s GPS technology to find and capture animated creatures in
real-world places.
“Be careful where you
chase these Pokemon — or whatever it is you chase — because we have seen issues
in other places with people going onto private property where a property owner
didn’t want them on there,” said Assistant Police Chief Jim McLean in
Pflugerville, Texas.
Some players have
expressed worries on social media that the game could result in a fearful
property owner pulling a gun — a scenario that could fall into a legal gray
area in the nearly two dozen states with “stand your ground” laws that allow
people wide latitude to use deadly force when they believe they are in danger.
McLean’s department
posted a Facebook warning Monday after officers spotted a man playing the game
in a section of a police parking lot where the public isn’t allowed. The player
had to pass keep-out signs and go over a fence or under a gate to reach the area.
“I’m not sure how he
got back there, but it was clear what he was doing,” McLean said. “He was
playing a Pokemon game with his phone up in the air.”
Every time the app is
opened, a warning from game maker Niantic pops up, telling players to be aware
of their surroundings. Players must also agree to fine print saying they cannot
enter private property without permission.
There’s also a
disclaimer that says Niantic is not liable for any property damage, injuries or
deaths that result while playing.
But those warnings
don’t seem to be getting through.
In Phoenix, police have
started posting humorous and colorful warnings on social media, saying chasing
the orange dragon Charizard is not a valid reason to set foot on someone else’s
property.
Gamers are also being
warned to watch for traffic while playing and not to drive while on the app.
One woman told WPXI-TV
in western Pennsylvania that her 15-year-old daughter was hit by a car while
playing the game and crossing a busy highway. The girl was hospitalized with an
injured collarbone and foot, as well as cuts and bruises, said her mother,
Tracy Nolan.
Several cemeteries,
including Arlington National outside Washington, have expressed worries about
players on their grounds.
At Mobile Memorial
Gardens in Alabama, president Timothy Claiborne has seen visitors walking or
driving around with phones in their hands, playing the game. He asked people in
about three dozen vehicles to leave over the past couple of days.
Three
“Pokemon Go” players got locked inside a cemetery in Pennsylvania while hunting
virtual monsters and needed police to let them out. The trio didn’t realize the
cemetery closed at dusk. They called police just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when
they discovered the cemetery gates were locked.  |
A sign at the National Weather Service in Anchorage, Alaska,
informs Pokemon
players that it’s illegal to trespass on federal property. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
|
