NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS ARE TURNING TABLES ON GROW-OPS

Good Old B.C. Homegrown Marijuana May Be Seeing Its Final Days.

Throughout the province, citizen's groups are forming to stamp out
growing operations.

Chilliwack Grow Watch, launched last July, supplied information
resulting in several large-scale grow-op busts. Hope is in the
process of organizing a group.

Chilliwack RCMP Const. Steve Hiscoe says that, from a policing
perspective, the program works. Basically, neighbours report
suspicious activities to the Mounties, who follow up on the tips.

White Rock RCMP offer the following warning signs to watch for:

1. Suspects don't appear to have regular jobs, but may drive
expensive vehicles.

2. Dark coverings over some windows, hoses running from exterior
doors or windows, powerful window fans, unusual or modified wiring on
the exterior of the house.

3. Rooms may be constantly illuminated.

4. Heavy condensation on windows, absence of snow or frost on the
roof during cold weather. Unusual numbers of roof vents, or unusual
amounts of steam coming from vents.

5. Extraordinary security measures: new fencing, guard dogs, window
bars. Entry exclusively through automatic garage doors, residents
seldom seen out of their cars.

6. Strange odours emanating from the house.

7. Sounds of humming fans, or trickling water.

8. Lights on 12 to 18 hours a day.

9. Localized power surges or brownouts lasting up to 12 hours.

10. Residents avoid all contact with neighbours.

11. Children's toys are left outside but no children are seen.

12. Growing equipment and supplies are taken into the house, shed or
garage, yet there are no flowers or gardens. Pots, soil, hoses and
nutrients are scattered around.

13.The house appears vacant, the yard is poorly tended, junk mail accumulates.

14. Visitors park down the street and walk to the house.

15. Condos and apartment buildings are increasingly being used.
Tenants may move in at night, or move in, then disappear. Listen for
strange construction noises.

16. No garbage on garbage days, or invisible tenants with a lot of garbage.

Grow-ops are everywhere in B.C. and leave destruction behind them.

Grow-ops attract those who rob grow-ops.

One group of lowlifes ripping off another appears to be a victimless
crime, except that the thieves are stupid, lazy, incompetent
criminals at best, who occasionally invade the wrong homes,
terrorizing innocent people.

Everyone agrees neighbourhood grow-op watch programs make sense --
except for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, whose spokesperson
voices vague worries: "It's like deputizing civilians to create
police channels. If you get a vigilante mentality worked up, it could
have repercussions."

Imagine the repercussions if we do nothing.