Maxed-out hydro leads to marijuana grow
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Updated: November 13, 2009 3:59 PM
More than 2,000 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $750,000 were seized Thursday by Chilliwack RCMP officers in a basement grow-operation in a Chilliwack Lake Road home.
Two suspects, a 37-year-old male and a 31-year-old female, were arrested at the residence in the 47500-block and released on a promise to appear in court Jan. 19 to face charges of theft of electricity and marijuana production.
Officers with the RCMP's crime reduction unit, assisted by community policing and general duty officers, attended the residence to execute a warrant for theft of electricity.
With the theft of electricity confirmed, police seized 2,021 large marijuana plants in the grow-operation and $5,000 in cash.
Finding and busting marijuana grow-ops is a priority with the Chilliwack RCMP.
"If you have any information about marijuana grow-operations in our community, please do your part and call the Chilliwack RCMP or Crime Stoppers," said Cpl. Lea-Anne Dunlop.
The following are typical signs of a grow-op:
- occupants don't appear to have jobs, but drive expensive vehicles;
- dark coverings on some of the windows;
- rooms or outbuildings seem to be lit up all the time;
- condensation of the windows, absence of frost or snow on the roof;
- strange or "funky" odor coming from the house;
- the hydro meter can be spinning unsually fast;
- power surges or brown-outs in your neighbourhood.
