Sedona police looked into a circulated letter incorrectly stating home invasions were on the rise in Uptown and determined the circulation was not illegal.

Sedona Police Department Cmdr. Ron Wheeler said the letter is not a scam because nothing was asked for or requested, and it instead looks like more of a warning to residents to be on the lookout for this activity.

“We regret to inform you that in the last 60 days there have been five or more home invasions in your area,” the letter reads. “Suspects are believed to be driving a van or box truck. They are posing as a maid, pool cleaning or landscaping service.”

Some residents, after receiving the letter, thought it came from the police department.

Wheeler said besides the numerous misspellings, a letter from the department would have been on its stationary with its logo.

He said the main concern with the letter is the information is wrong, but he added it is not a crime to circulate letters.

“They are  not selling any goods,” he said. “They are just telling people what not to do.”

The commander said police have no idea what group or person wants this incorrect information out there.

“I don’t know what the motive is,” he said. “If the person doing it wants the correct information, they can contact me, and we can help them.”

He added police officers are more than happy to give presentations and tips to homeowner associations and groups on how to be safe and protect their homes.

Putting fliers out with false information, he said, does not help anyone, and he wonders what exact area the letter is talking about since it refers to criminal activity in “your” area.

An officer told Wheeler he spoke to three residents recently in the Mission Hills area who received the letter.

“It is causing people to be alarmed,” he said, and added the police department would not send a letter out like this.

“There would have to be a significant event or plan that we were trying to address,” he said in explaining why the department would create a letter.

The letter states suspects are believed to be using a technique called bump keying to allow burglars to get into homes quickly and easily not leaving signs of forced entry.

Wheeler said in the last three years, there have only been two bump keying incidents in Sedona and none in the last 18 months.

“We are not seeing it in our town,” he said in disputing the comment made in the letter.

The letter states homeowners insurance will not cover losses or damages caused by bump keying and recommends installing a security system, posting beware of dogs and no trespassing signs, and making sure entry ways to homes are well lit and visible to neighbors.

It also stated all suspicion activity should be reported to police.

Michael Maresh can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125 or e-mail mmaresh@larsonnewspapersa.com