BC Hydro pulled the plug on a former marijuana grow-op.

Early Thursday morning West Shore RCMP arrived at a Colwood home with a warrant for theft of power.

“The theft of power is common for indoor (marijuana) grow-ops,” said RCMP Const. Ross Wallace.

No one was home, but when police arrived they found a what appeared to be a dismantled grow-op with the plants already removed by their owners.

A small amount of harvested marijuana was in the home, Wallace said.

Police seized grow operation equipment such as filters, lights and pots from the garage of the house on Acland Avenue off of Wishart Road.

Prior to a investigating the house, RCMP waited for BC Hydro workers to cut the home’s power.

“We have no idea of the quality or danger of the house so we are staying safe,” Wallace said. “When it comes to electricity we have a great working relationship with BC Hydro.”

Colwood bylaw enforcement also stood by waiting to do an investigation of the house, looking to enforce the City's nuisance and controlled substances bylaw. The homeowner could be billed for police and city officials time for to dismantle a grow-op and subsequent inspections.

“Once (BC Hydro) severs the line our building inspector will check for health concerns like mould. He will also look to see if electricity, heating and ducting or any structural modifications were made to the building,” said Kevin Atkinson, Colwood’s bylaw enforcement officer.

After reviewing the home, bylaw enforcement deemed the house unsafe and not fit for occupancy due to electrical modifications and the possibility of mould and fungus.

To bring the home back to code, Atkinson said the owner would have to go to the City apply for permits and extensively renovate the home.

“We deal with the bylaw actions. Criminal aspects are for the police,” Atkinson said.

The case is still under investigation by RCMP and bylaw officials.

“This is the second time this week I’ve had to assist the street crimes unit (with a grow-op),” Wallace said. “Indoor grow-ops are not uncommon, we have about the average for communities this size in B.C. We want the general public to no longer be concerned about indoor grow operations.”

On Monday, West Shore RCMP seized 463 plants from a home on Promenade Crescent.

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