GEORGETOWN WOMAN CHARGED WITH INJURING A BUILDING

Hydro meter tampered with in pot-growing scheme, police allege

A Georgetown woman has been charged with injuring a building - as well as
several other several drug charges - after Halton Region Police dismantled
a residential pot-growing operation.

Police allege the 21-year-old woman altered the residence, including
tampering with the home's hydro meter so the increased electricity use
wouldn't be detected. Although rarely levied, the indictable offence of
injuring a building carries a maximum prison term of five years upon
conviction.

"I've been with Halton for 17 years and it's the first time I can ever
remember this charged being laid," said Detective Larry Burns of Halton's
drug squad. "We looked at it and thought, why not, maybe it will initiate
some restitution to the owner.

"It's in the criminal code and it's an indictable offence but I've never
seen it laid before. Hopefully it will make the courts look at the
homeowner being a victim."

Police seized seized 468 marijuana plants with a street value of $470,000
as well as $10,000 worth of pot-growing equipment.

Burns said the woman had been renting the home for about five months.

"The entire basement had been turned into a marijuana-growing operation,"

Burns said. "As well as tampering with the hydro, there was also some
altering of the ventilation in the home.

Han Thanh Le, 21, of Barber Dr., Georgetown has been charged with producing
a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, theft
under $5,000 and injuring a building. She's to appear in a Milton court Oct. 4.