MAN KILLED IN RIP-OFF OF MARIJUANA GROW-OP

Mounties have re-issued a warning about the dangers of marijuana
home-grow operations after three "grow rips" -- including one that left
a Vancouver man dead.

Four males were recently arrested and charged in connection with the
death of Vi Soi Hoang.

The 41-year-old was severely beaten and left for dead on the street
after the four, armed with a .357 Magnum, a 9-mm pistol and brass
knuckles, burst into a home in the 8300-block of No. 4 Road Sept. 8
looking to rip off a grow op.

Vancouver's Parminder Perry Soor, 18, has been charged with break and
enter, possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon and
improper storage of a firearm.

Milad Saffari, 19, of Surrey has been charged with second-degree
murder, break and enter, committing a robbery using a firearm and
possession of a loaded, restricted weapon.

A Vancouver young offender, age 16, has been charged with
second-degree murder. A second young offender, 17, of Richmond, has been
charged with manslaughter.

"This is the third murder of the year in Richmond and the second
murder connected to a grow operation," said Cpl. Peter Thiessen.

"Clearly, when anyone is involved in a marijuana grow operation, they run
the risk of losing their life."

In another incident, a 29-year-old Surrey man suffered gunshot wounds
when three men tried to break into a home containing a grow op in the
12800-block of 92A Avenue early Wednesday.

Const. Tim Shields said it appears the trio was attempting a grow rip when
the occupant of the house apparently opened fire.

Don Johnston Robinson, 36, has been charged with attempted murder.

Charges are pending against the 29-year-old, who was taken to hospital with
non-life-threatening injuries.

A day earlier, eight masked men armed with machetes broke into a home
in the 13700-block of 115 Avenue looking for a pot grow op.
Apparently, the marijuana had already been harvested and the intruders fled.

"Marijuana grow operations present a very real risk and threat to
public safety," Shields said. "We are increasingly called to violent
crimes in direct relation to grow ops."

Despite the public's perception that grow ops are "safe," officers
have probed homicides, shootings, stabbings, kidnappings, extortions and
serious assaults related to the marijuana trade that is controlled by
organized crime, said Shields.

Mission RCMP recently discovered a large grow op in an underground
concrete bunker. The 2,000-square-foot unit, located 14 feet
underground in north Mission, contained a large grow op.

A second bunker, containing a large electrical transformer used to
power the operation, was found a short distance away.

Charges are pending.

RCMP said one in eight homicides in B.C. are related to the marijuana grow
industry.