Police warn fans of Mare of Easttown to stop trespassing where HBO’s crime drama was filmed. Created by Brad Ingelsby, the seven-episode limited stars Kate Winslet as Mare Sheehan, who is tasked with investigating the murder of a teenage mother that may/may not be tied to another missing person case. Taking place in the titular small Pennsylvania town, Mare of Easttown is part whodunit part character study following Winslet’s detective as members of her community begin to doubt her work while her personal life crumbles.
Mare of Easttown, which premiered on April 18, garnered solid ratings from the jump; steadily increasing in live viewership each week. The show’s finale was the most-watched original series episode ever within its first 24 hours on HBO Max. Naturally, creator Ingelsby has left the possibility of a season 2 open (despite it being a limited series) and signed a deal to produce more original content for HBO. That said, while WarnerMedia may be enjoying the attention Mare of Easttown has brought its streaming service, residents of Wallingford, Pa. aren’t pleased with fans wanting to get an in-person look at where portions of the series were filmed.
According to a post on the Nether Providence Police Department’s Facebook page, too many people have been bothering residents and going onto private properties in search of the homes filmed for Mare of Easttown; in particular, fans are looking for the exterior of Mare’s house. Police are now giving notice to visitors that signs are posted and “warnings will not be given” for blocking traffic, trespassing, or disturbing the peace. Check out their full, and somewhat amusing statement below:
"Yes! It's neat they filmed a lot of it in our town. Yes!! It's really cool Kate was 'living in Wallingford'. No!!!!! It's NOT cool to go to the homes they filmed at, trespass on the property and harass the owners and their kids all hours of the day and night…..REALLY! It's a house. Get over it," the message reads. "If you plan on taking this trip, STOP and think! Officers will be in and around the area(s) and will take appropriate action. Warnings will not be given and signs are posted. Trespassers, blocking traffic, disturbing the peace, etc., will not be tolerated. Thank you."
Many homeowners in the area have complained about the problem and police have increased their patrols. The real-life owner of “Mare’s house,” who wisely chose not to share her name or address, told Philadelphia’s 6ABC that people won’t stop coming on her property to see it’s the same place Mare of Easttown was filmed, once “late at night to look in our front window.” When she asked another woman to stop taking pictures because her daughter, who was playing outside and has been afraid of the unwanted guests, the trespasser cursed at her.
Mare of Easttown, a crime drama, has inspired crime. Like the real-life owner of Walter White’s house who kept getting pizzas thrown on his roof, trespassing in Wallingford illustrates the show’s overwhelming popularity. In this case, that’s not a good thing. If any good can come of this obsession, maybe it’ll convince Ingelsby and Winslet, who has already said she’d love to play Mare again, to find that perfect story for season 2—which will inspire people to spend more time in their homes watching Mare of Easttown and leave the homes of others alone.
Source: Nether Providence Police Department/Facebook