PotShot

Marijuana grow ops remain a threat to neighbourhoods
Monique Tamminga | Langley Times | Jun 25 2006

Langley still has its fair share of marijuana grow ops, with the local drug section carting away 1,000 plants from two homes on Tuesday, one in a new Willoughby subdivision.

A fire that started in a B.C. Hydro meter box attached to a house at 7283 196A St. uncovered a marijuana grow operation. The neighbourhood is part of a new development of homes where several grow ops have been busted, said police.

Langley Mounties are concerned when electricity is stolen, as it was in this case, because fires can spread from the hydro meter to neighbouring houses.

“When houses are that close together, the flames could easily spread to the next house,” said Langley RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Diane Blain.

“Hydro bypassing is very dangerous.”

The resident of the home was alerted by a passerby that a fire had started on the outside of the house. Witnesses then saw the man grab a woman from the house and the two fled in a van, said police.

Around 9:30 p.m Township fire crews put out the blaze. About 400 pot plants were discovered in the the new home. The drug section executed a warrant and seized the plants.

“Often, they rig up the meter so badly, you never know what’s going to happen. There have been several [grow ops] in this area of brand new homes,” Blain said.

Township assistant fire chief Dave Palmer said they attend these types of fires from time to time. Hydro meters are built to code and can handle the amount of electricity expected in a home, he said.

“You are safe if you leave it alone, but any modifications done to these meters creates a hazard,” said Palmer.

“The closer the homes are together, the greater the exposure hazard. That’s why people should report suspicious activities of neighbours to police for the safety of their own families.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Langley RCMP’s drug section executed a warrant in a large home in the 24000 block of 269A Street in Aldergrove.

A 32-year-old Langley man was arrested on the scene and more than 500 plants seized from the basement.

In that case, it was concerns from neighbours that helped bust the grow op, said police. Their diligence led to a police investigation which led to a warrant, said Blain.

The suspect in that case was released on a promise to appear. He is facing charges of production of marijuana and theft of hydro.

The investigation of the Willoughby grow op is on going. No arrests have been made yet.

“Grow ops are a menace and pose major safety issues for neighbours. If you see anything suspicious call us,” said Blain.

Know the signs

There are several signs to indicate a home may conceal a grow op:

- bars on the windows appear when new residents move in;

- fan noise coming from inside;

- hydro meter working at a high rate of speed, appearing damaged or not working at all;

- when occupants first ‘move in,’ you hear lots of construction noise — especially concerning in a brand new home;

- newspapers accumulate on the front step;

- cube vans or vans back up into the garage, stay a while and leave;

- addition of a new hydro line; and

- empty fertilizer or pot soil bags or containers discarded on garbage day, yet no outside landscaping was done.

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Carl Sagan Goodness Richard Dawkins Goodness

nornerator

Perhaps if the electric companies weren't handing over energy consumption information to the government people wouldn't be stealing it in order to stay under the radar.

I love it when the government will pass laws that only damage the people more.

NCAA Athlete

In B.C. the electric company is the government (I think).