Sheriff's office: Be careful while playing Pokémon Go!

The newly released PokémonGo! app for iPhone and Android devices is stirring up a mass following of gamers. But its popularity is incurring a number of complaints, including St. Mary Parish.

The game was released on July 6.

“When the game was released last week, like other public safety agencies, we did see an increase in complaints of suspicious persons,” St. Mary Parish Sheriff spokesperson Traci Landry said.

“We also witnessed drivers slowing down for Poke Stops,” Landry said. “While the game is a great way to get out and explore St. Mary Parish, we caution players about becoming distracted while playing the augmented reality game.”

The game allows players to travel between the worlds of real and virtual.

It is built on Niantic’s Real World Gaming Platform and uses real locations to encourage players to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon, said on the Pokémon website.

Pokémon GO allows you to find and catch more than a hundred species of Pokémon as surroundings are explored.

Landry suggests the following safety tips to gamers:

—Don’t catch and drive. Park in a safe place. Don't block traffic.

—Always be mindful and be aware of your surroundings. Don't get so distracted that you put yourself in a dangerous place or situation.

—Don't trespass.

—Watch out for developing weather conditions and don't overdo it in the heat.

—Parents, please talk to your kids about being safe while playing alternate reality games.