Published in the July 22, 2016 edition
The Melrose Police put out an alert last week intended for those residents who are playing the wildly popular Pokemon Go on their smartphones.
Others need to watch out too.
The increasingly popular smartphone app allows users to collect Pokémon characters in a simulated virtual world — tapping into the device’s GPS system to track where players are throughout the day. To catch Pokémon, users travel to different spots, locating animals as they move up and down streets, through buildings and into their homes.
While no accidents or issues have been reported in Melrose as a result of Pokémon Go, numerous incidents have occurred both locally and nationwide. Police Chief Mike Lyle asks that citizens remember to always be aware of their surroundings and to be respectful of others while playing.
We’ve seen plenty of players walk out into the middle of busy streets while looking down at their phones, completely oblivious to traffic.
While we agree that players need to be careful, we know a lot of them are kids who don’t always do what adults tell them. So we have the added responsibility of looking out for them while they play this game, because they don’t have much problem putting their safety in jeopardy.
Bumper stickers read: Look! Motorcycles are everywhere. So too, it seems, are Pokemon Go players.
