The Pokémon Go phenomenon sweeping the globe has not left the Town of Darien untouched. Our officers have observed small groups of smartphone equipped “trainers” traversing the town in search of Pokéballs and rare Pokémon creatures. It is refreshing to see teens and young adults meeting up to get outside and explore Darien. “Catching ‘em all” takes concentration, but it is important to remember that our world has many more dangers than those found in the Pokémon universe. The New York City Police Department recently issued some helpful tips to help Pokémon Go enjoy a safe playing experience:
- Be alert at all times
- Stay aware of your surroundings
- Play in pairs or as a group to ensure your safety
- Do not drive or ride your bike, skateboard, or other device while interacting with the app...You can't do both safely.
- Do not trespass onto private property or go to areas you usually would not if you weren't playing Pokémon Go.
- Be aware and tell your kids about "stranger-danger". The app may draw strangers together in real life at pokéstops.
- Parents - be aware of 3rd party software apps claiming to enhance the gaming experience however, these 3rd party apps only gives access to sensitive data - i.e. name, email, and calendar.
- Have fun AND stay safe. Good luck in your quest, and happy hatching, trapping, and training at the Pokémon gym!
Want to meet up with a police officer to capture and train Pokémon? Look out for our Pokémon themed police car that will be visiting Pokémon gyms and pokéstops around Darien between 3:00pm and 11:00pm on July 19th.
Finally, the Darien Police Department has leveraged its crime mapping skills to develop an interactive “pokémap”. This map can help players find the best pokéstops and Gyms, while avoiding those that are situated on private property, or closed after dark. Did we miss your favorite pokéstop? Let us know about it via Twitter or Facebook!