Pokemon Go safety precautions

I've been hearing a lot of stories about people blaming Pokemon Go for a lot of bad stuff that's been happening lately. In the first four days, there's been several robberies, break-ins, and an instance of a dead body being found. There's also plenty of concern that there might be sexual predators looking to kidnap children. I don't believe Pokemon Go is to blame for all of it, but with this many people playing it, and more people going out and being physically active, now's as good a time as any to start learning some common-sense measures to keep safe. So, here are some things you can do to keep safe.

-Don't break into people's houses trying to catch a Pokemon. That will highly likely get you arrested or killed.

-Keep your place locked down, fortress-style, when you're not in it, or when you're sleeping. You don't want to run the risk of having your house broken into or robbed, either because someone wanted to catch a Pokemon or had some other, more malicious intentions.

-Keep a close eye on your children at all times. If they wish to go out and play Pokemon Go, offer to come with them, or encourage them to go out with friends or other relatives. It will be easier to ensure safety this way, and it might be a lot more fun for all involved.

-Always keep a close eye on your surroundings. Don't just keep your eyes glued to your smartphone.
You don't want to run the risk of being caught unawares, or wind up walking into heavy traffic or bumping into people or anything like that.

-Do your best not to walk into dangerous neighborhoods if it can be avoided. I don't care if Mewtwo's in that neighborhood, it's not worth the risk of getting mugged, raped, stabbed, shot, or otherwise harmed.

-Don't go out at night unless absolutely necessary, especially if you live in an area with a high crime rate. Same reasoning as the immediate above.

-Always watch for cars, and avoid areas with no sidewalks whenever possible. You'll never become a Pokemon Master if you get run over by an 18-wheeler.

-Don't drive while playing Pokemon Go, as distracted driving is obviously very dangerous. Keep your eyes on the road at all times. You don't want to cause an accident. At least wait until you have your car parked before you check your smartphone. You can worry about catching Pokemon when you're on foot.

Pretty much, do everything you SHOULD be doing by default when it comes to taking care of you and yours. Even if you never play Pokemon Go, you always have to take initiative in protecting yourself and those you are responsible for. Keep yourselves safe, everyone.