Pokemon Go users have drawn few complaints
APPLETON - Pokemon are everywhere — in your house, in jails and even in your neighbor’s backyard — but Fox Cities users of the popular game thus far have not crossed the line.
Trespassing complaints have been nearly nil here since the digital game exploded last week, Appleton police said.
“It hasn’t happened here yet,” said Capt. Todd Freeman of the Appleton Police Department. “We’d be quick to educate. Make yourself publicly seen rather than lurking around in bushes, which is maybe not the best idea.”
The augmented reality game requires users to get up and walk around to capture, train and battle Pokemon. The further they go, the more Pokemon wind up on their radar, but if not careful, users can find themselves walking into restricted places to catch the creatures.
“I never go onto people’s private property and I don’t go in cemeteries,” said Matt Wild, a Pokemon Go player in Appleton. “I think that’s pretty disrespectful.”
Outside of the Fox Cities, what Wild finds disrespectful has been more common. There have been media reports of tickets and warnings being issued for trespassing from South Carolina to Texas to Utah. Homeowners have found gamers lurking around their houses at all hours of the night, to “catch em all,” causing quite a disturbance.
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While there are neighborhoods that are popular gaming areas, people seem to be polite in their hunts. As a result, trespassing complaints have been virtually non-existent. Some homeowners even enjoy the new attention.
“We've had quite a few Pokemon sprout up in our yard, and a handful of kids coming through our yard to catch them,” Menasha resident Jason Van Patten said in an email. “Personally, I think it's great and no one's been anything but respectful.”
Trespassing on private property is always a no-no.
“I just don’t do it,” said Justin Roberts, a gamer in Appleton.
Asking permission before going on someone's property is advised, but even if that doesn’t work, there are ways around it without breaking the law.
“I usually knock on their doors and they let us (on their property),” said Daniel Balbas, of Appleton. “If not, I go around the block and try to get another angle.”
Not everyone is brave enough to knock on a stranger's door. Neenah resident James Faulkner said he prefers not to bother his neighbors, even if it’s a Pokemon he badly wants to catch.
“There was actually a haunter at my neighbor’s house,” Faulkner said. “I was very tempted to knock on their door and be like, 'there’s a haunter in your house and I need to go catch it right now.'”
But staying on his neighbor’s good side was more important than catching a Pokemon that day.
Littering and loitering haven't been a problem either. Houdini Plaza, a popular gaming spot in downtown Appleton, hasn't had any issues with trash, according to Anne Wiegman, marketing director of Appleton Downtown Inc., a nonprofit that supports downtown businesses.
As people gather at parks and work in teams, the gaming community is uniting, which is perhaps helping to keep complaints down.
“I’ve met a few people, even friends who were walking by,” said Kaden Buck, who plays the game around Houdini Plaza. “It’s actually a good way to meet new people.”
Police are hopeful that the politeness continues.
“We anticipate that as the popularity continues to grow, there probably will be some issues,” Freeman said. “Right now we’re just trying to educate people about being aware of private property."
Nadijah Campbell: 920-996-7252 or nacampbell@appleton.gannett.com; on Twitter @NadijahCampbell