MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWS CREATING "TARGET-RICH" ENVIRONMENT FOR THIEVES

Thefts from marijuana gardens in Butte County are increasing in
number, and they're becoming increasingly violent, authorities believe.

Plants grown legally for medicinal purposes -- often in gardens
visible from roadways -- have created popular target for thieves.

In the past two weeks, police agencies have responded to three
incidents where violence accompanied attempts to burglarize property
with pot plants -- turning two of them into armed robberies, and one
into an arson investigation.

On Oct. 6 three men wearing camouflage clothing cleaned out a small
medicinal marijuana grow off Highway 70 near Yankee Hill.

The men ran from the property, firing a shot in the general direction
of the victim. He was growing 12 plants for friends and showed
authorities three prescriptions from a physician.

Five days later, a Chico woman who grows medical marijuana on property
owned by her mother near Third and Mangrove avenues heard boards being
torn away from a fence beside the garden and went to
investigate.

She discovered a male adult pulling her mature marijuana plants
through slants in the fence. When she began a tug-of-war with the man,
he produced a small-caliber handgun and reportedly said, "I have a
gun."

The victim, who wasn't identified, allegedly replied, "I don't care.
You're not getting my medicine."

The armed man fled to a vehicle followed by the victim's mother, who
was knocked to the ground when she tried to stop him. The victim's dog
also gave chase and was hit and killed by a vehicle not involved in
the incident.

On Sunday, Butte County sheriff's deputies investigated a structure
fire in Oroville intentionally set as a diversion by a man attempting
to steal medical marijuana.

Patrick Kelly Trevino, 34, was arrested for the crimes three days
later at his place of employment.

Sgt. Dennis Cooley, with Butte County's special enforcement unit, said
most marijuana gardens have been harvested, leaving thieves to go
after the finished product.

On Halloween night last year, two males wearing masks knocked on a
door on White Avenue and demanded, at gunpoint, a pound of marijuana
the occupants legally possessed for medical purposes.

They reportedly filled two trick-or-treat bags the occupants kept in a
freezer. The victim fired two rounds from a shotgun at the fleeing
men. No one was hit.

Earlier in October 2004, processed medical marijuana was stolen at
gunpoint from victims in Forest Ranch.

"All these medical marijuana grows have created a target-rich
environment," Cooley said.

"There is no shortage of marijuana on the street," Cooley said, noting
that some people would rather steal it than buy it.

"If anything, there's more pot available than in past years," said
Cooley.

Under Proposition 215, approved by California voters in 1996, it has
been legal to grow and possess a small amount of marijuana for
personal medical use, with a physician's authorization.