In cities like Bellbrook — where there are several “hot spots” for Pokemon — police are keeping an eye on users wandering around with their phones out.
“We had a couple of incidents over the weekend with kids playing Pokemon GO,” said Bellbrook Police Lt. Stephen Carmen, whose children also play the game.
The app uses the smartphone’s camera to engage users in “augmented reality,” meaning an animated layer of Pokemon appears on the screen with the actual, physical world as backdrop. The program also uses GPS to inform users of where Pokemon are — and sometimes, they’re in locations off-limits to the general public.
“We had a few instances of people going onto other people’s property late at night, or places where they’re not supposed to be on other people’s property, which can be a trespass issue,” Carmen said.
The app has been praised as a way to get kids out of the house and on their feet. But older kids (and kids at heart) have taken to driving around to find the Pokemon.
“It presents an unsafe situation,” Carmen said. “You can be cited under Ohio’s texting and driving laws or for full time and attention.”
Perhaps the most nefarious use of Pokemon GO is a report out of Missouri, where armed robbers allegedly created a “pokestop” to attract unsuspecting users.
Still, the widespread popularity of the app has made it a favorite among smartphone users. Sixteen-year-old Adam Johnson said he’s been playing the game for nearly four days and enjoys meeting others seeking the same Pokemon as him.
Among the places where the virtual critters have been caught locally are Wright State University, The Greene, the free-roam cat room at the SICSA pet adoption center and the newsroom of the Dayton Daily News.
Staff Writers Lauren Clark and Andrew Smith contributed reporting.
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