By Gloria Casas as originally posted on chicagotribune.com
Elgin Police are jumping aboard the Pokemon Go phenomenon by providing safety tips as downtown Elgin becomes a hot spot to catch the cute Pokemon figures.
“Over the course of the last week, we’ve had a lot of people playing the game in the downtown area and also in residential areas,” Commander Ana Lalley said in a video posted on Elgin Police Department’s Facebook page.
Pokemon Go is a smartphone app in which players use their GPS to find, collect and train Pokemon by walking to different locations, according to Forbes.com. There have been reports of people being injured while playing the game.
Lalley and Commander Al Young provided safety tips in the video for anyone playing Pokemon Go. They include warnings against driving or riding a bike, reminders to be aware of surroundings, a recommendation that people don’t go out alone, and suggestions to wear bright colors and respect private property.
“We received several phone calls of players who end up in people’s backyard and people are not really sure what is going on,” Lalley said. “So we want to make sure if you are playing the game you respect the game and people’s property.”
The Elgin Police Department is hosting a Walk and Talk session from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, outside the police department, 150 Dexter Court, Elgin. A few police officers will walk with players for a few hours around the downtown and talk about Pokemon Go strategies, provide safety tips and answer questions, Lalley said.
“I am really interested in learning to play this Pokemon thing. I’ve never seen it,” Commander Al Young said in the video, after playing around with the app and catching two Pokemon that appeared on Lalley’s shoulder.
Furry Times 