WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington has not been immune to the Pokemon Go craze that’s sweeping the nation! And something interesting, although perhaps not unexpected, has happened since the game debuted earlier this month — an increase in after-dark “suspicious activity” entries in the Wilmington Police Log.
Here are some recent examples:
- July 10: Father Early reported a group of people were walking around St. Thomas with their phones out. Police responded. Situated checked OK. Individuals were playing Pokemon Go. (9:10pm)
- July 11: Police investigated suspicious behavior in a car in a parking lot on Middlesex Avenue. Situation checked OK. Individual were playing Pokemon Go. (1:40am)
- July 12: Police noticed a vehicle in the lot of Grace Chapel on West Street. Parties were at this location playing Pokemon Go. Police sent parties on their way. (1:41am)
- July 14: Police checked on a vehicle in the high school parking lot. Situation OK. Parties were playing Pokemon Go. (1:19am)
- July 15: An Aldrich Road resident reported that last night, two juveniles were walking around her property, playing Pokemon Go. Police told her to call back if juveniles returned so officers could speak with them. (12:23pm)
- July 16: Police conducted a check of Town Hall and came across a group of juveniles gathered near the front door playing Pokemon Go. Police advised the group and escorted them off the property. (12:51am)
- July 17: Police noticed six individuals were in the Town Hall parking lot. Situation checked OK. Individuals were playing Pokemon Go and sent on their way. (12:39am)
- July 19: Police noticed a suspicious person at Grace Chapel on West Street. Individual was playing Pokemon Go. Police sent him on his way. (1:44am)
- (NOTE: Wilmington Apple hasn’t seen the Police Logs for July 21-July 28 yet.)
In response, the Wilmington Police Department has shared several safety tips regarding Pokemon Go, including this tweet from Wednesday:
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Father Early, of St. Thomas and St. Dorothy’s, shared some common sense safety tips for Pokemon Go players in his weekly church bulletin column:
“Villanova Hall was one of the stops on the Pokemon scavenger hunt app. I realized that when all the cars, bicycles and walkers were on the property. I had to go out and ask what was going on. I do not follow the release of such apps. The one thing I noticed is that people were staring at their phones and not looking where they were walking. If you are into Pokemon, please watch where you are going so you are not hit by a vehicle or otherwise injured.”
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The Better Business Bureau recently released some Pokemon Go concerns of their own:
Pokemon GO has become the most downloaded phone app in the U.S. The app, which uses mapping software to create a virtual reality game, is getting children and adults out and about in their neighborhoods to “catch” the game characters as they pop up on phone screens from various locations.
Although the game can be a blast, BBB is warning players and parents to be aware of some nuances that go with GO.
Expenses: It’s possible to play completely cost-free by winning “PokeCoins” (the app’s currency) through gameplay, but you can also purchase the coins through an in-app purchase. The longer you play, the more spending money you need to store and “train” your gathered characters. The app also requires constant GPS access, and it uses a lot of data. After playing for hours every day, consumers with limited data plans may find themselves with a hefty bill at the end of the month.
Privacy: In order to play the game, users must allow the app to access other applications, such as maps and camera. Many users sign in with a Google account, and that has caused some concerns about privacy. The Android version of the game only accesses limited data (such as the user’s email address), but the iOS version for the iPhone can access all Google data. Niantic, the game’s maker, says no personal information has been accessed, and it is issuing a bug fix to correct the problem. Users can create an account through the app itself rather than using an email address to access the game.
Malware: So far, the app is only available in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, which has given cybercriminals an opportunity to capitalize on the demand. A malware version of the game has been found online; although no known infections have been reported. Users should only download the app through official app stores, not third-party sites.
Safety: Players should use the same safety precautions while playing the game that they would in any other outdoor setting, including caution in strange locations. A Missouri police department reported robbers using a secluded “PokeStop” location to rob unsuspecting game players. Players should be cautious as pedestrians and obey all traffic laws, and drivers should be on the lookout for children who may be distracted by the game. The app also drains phone batteries, so users should be careful not to get stranded far from home.
Infringement: PokeStops are supposed to all be on public property (or cooperative private sites), but at least one homeowner has reported that his historic house is mistakenly a PokeStop. Players should be respectful of others’ private property. Future commercial opportunities are anticipated, where stores can offer rare or unique characters to add to the game.
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