HYDRO LAUNCHES GROW-OPERATION TIP LINE

The provincial electricity provider is powering up a program to
eliminate grow ops.

BC Hydro is partnering with Crime Stoppers in establishing a tip line
to report people who may be stealing electricity, a common activity
of people with indoor marijuana plantations.

Hydro's energy diversion investigators can now receive addresses of
suspected grow-ops reported to the Crime Stoppers tip line. Where
evidence of theft is found, BC Hydro lays complaints with law
enforcement agencies, which in turn obtain search warrants and
recommend charging suspects.

"We believe that the partnership will increase identification of
electricity theft and ultimately assist police in shutting down
grow-ops in B.C.," said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor
General John Les. "Our government is working to put a stop to
marijuana grow-ops by improving links between BC Hydro, local
governments, and safety and law enforcement agencies."

Anyone who knows of a suspected marijuana grow operation can call the
Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) from anywhere in
British Columbia. Or you can leave a secure tip online at
www.bccrimestoppers.com. The organization will then refer those tips
to the police and advise BC Hydro of the addresses.

How to spot a grow operation

- - Discarded equipment: Sometimes growers leave equipment lying around
the yard such as nutrient containers, pots, wiring, soil, root balls,
aluminum shrouds and PVC piping.

- - Unusual visitor behaviour: Inconsistencies in visitors to and from
the residence, ranging from no visitors giving the appearance of
seclusion, to frequent visitors for short time periods. Visitors will
often leave one person waiting in the car while the other enters the premises.

- - Covered windows: Covered with black plastic, heavy curtains pressed
against the windows or blinds that are tightly shut and pressed
against the windows.

- - Condensation: Humidity inside a grow room is approximately 65 per
cent with temperatures ranging between 80 to 90 F. These conditions
manifest themselves through condensation on windows.

- - Smells and odours: Skunk-like odour mixed with a sweet vegetative
smell or the unique smell of rotting cabbage. Also, the odor of moth
balls, chlorine, manure, soap and/or air freshener is frequently
utilized in trying to mask the smell of the operation.

- - Electrical humming, fans, trickling water: Some electrical
components in an indoor operation create humming sounds similar to a
transformer on a hydro pole.

- - Bright lights: High intensity 1,000 watt lamps are normally used
and sometimes not completely disguised. These lights are the same as
used in outdoor public swimming pools and baseball parks.

- - Localized power surges/browning: Neighbourhood residences
experience unexplained power surges or power "browning" (decrease of
power which dims lights and slows down appliance use) with the return
of normal power flow approximately 12 hours later.

- - "Beware of Dog" or "Guard Dog on Duty" signs: Used to deter
trespassing, protect against theft and detection by police.

- - History of premises: Residence and/or commercial premises have been
used as marijuana grow operations in the past. Many of these rental
properties are known among the criminal element as having been used
for growing marijuana then repeatedly used again.

- - Other indicators used as props to deflect any attention by
neighbors and police: Outdoor and/or indoor lights, radio and/or TV
on for 24 hours, flyers left in mailbox or on the front steps,
children's toys and bikes outside without children living or seen at
the residence; realty signs posted on front lawn.