GROW-OP 'CARETAKER' BEATEN AND BOUND

A woman found on the roadway, bound and beaten, was the latest of
three victims in attacks against persons at marijuana grow-ops in
Langley in less than a year.

The 32 year old woman was found with her hands bound, near 200 Street
and 24 Avenue, at 11:15 pm on Thursday, May 3. She was found by a
passing motorist, and had been beaten at a nearby residence.

She was taken to Langley Memorial Hospital, with what were described
as non life threatening injuries. She has since been transferred to
Vancouver General Hospital, where she is being treated for facial
injuries, while police continue their search for the attackers.

Police found the remains of a grow-op at the residence, and they have
determined that the female victim was a "caretaker" of the grow-op.
She was assaulted by two men in a home invasion style attack, and she
was tied up while the assailants "harvested" the marijuana crop.

"For those who continue to think of this as a 'low-risk, high-gain'
enterprise, perhaps it's time for a second look," said RCMP Cpl.
Garry Begg. "This is criminal commerce, pure and simple, with the
emphasis on the criminal. As well as the dangers of fire and
electrocution from shoddy and overloaded electrical wiring, and being
caught by the authorities, you can now add being seriously beaten,
even if you're a woman."