Arlington 'Pokemon Go' Players: Police Have a Message for You

To experience the impact of Pokemon Go on the city of Arlington, one only has to hang out at Pentagon Row on a summer's evening. You'll immediately notice couples walking by with the wildly popular game loaded on their phones, while others will be wandering around seemingly aimlessly, trying to nab a Spearow that suddenly appeared in front of them. And that's just the people who are obviously playing.

Arlington police haven't experienced major problems yet with the game, says police spokesperson Ashley Savage, but concern is growing across the country that while the game may have a net positive effect of getting people out and about, it can also put people in dangerous situations.

As a result, Arlington police are offering a few tips for Arlington residents.

First, be aware of your surroundings. That's actually the first message that pops up on your screen when you load the game, to its credit. After all, nothing ruins a fun game like tripping in a ditch or wandering out into traffic.

Another tip is to avoid putting yourself in unfamiliar places when you are all by yourself. Play with other people, or at least tell people where you're going if you plan on wandering the city.

Parents should place limits on where their kids can go -- that means no chasing a Zubat down an alley in an unfamiliar section of town.

Don't even think about playing game while driving. Texting while driving is dangerous enough -- playing Pokemon Go may be even worse.

And lastly, no matter how badly you want that Pikachu that popped up in a neighbor's backyard, don't trespass on private property.