BC HYDRO JOINS FIGHT AGAINST MARIJUANA GROW-OPS

The Province's Power Company Is Taking A Tougher Stand On Marijuana
Grow Operations.

BC Hydro and the Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General
announced Friday the power company is partnering with CrimeStoppers
to encourage people to report suspected marijuana grow operations.

With the new partnership, BC Hydro's energy diversion investigators
will now be able to obtain the addresses of suspected grow-ops
reported to the CrimeStoppers' Tip Line.

This new information will assist investigators in confirming energy
thefts and recovering funds.

If evidence of theft is found, BC Hydro lays complaints with law
enforcement agencies, which in turn obtain search warrants and
recommend charges.

It is believed this partnership will increase the identification of
electricity theft in the province and assist police in shutting down
grow-ops in B.C.

CrimeStoppers is a not-for-profit community-based program involving
residents, the media and police in the fight against crime.

Callers to CrimeStoppers do not have to give their name or telephone
number, or testify in court.

Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward upon an arrest and charge.

Port Alberni Crimestoppers spokesperson Don Findlay welcomed news of
the new partnership with BC Hydro.

"I love the idea," he said. "This is something we've been trying to
promote for a long time."

Findlay said BC Hydro can become a key partner in helping to identify
grow operations because "they can see when there is excessive power
being utilized" by a local resident.

The partnership will allow for better sharing of this type of information.

He said a number of tips come in every year concerning grow ops in
the Port Alberni area.

The local group paid out for tips on at least four fairly significant
grow operations over the last year.

Crimestoppers staff provide residents with a three-page handout on
how to spot grow ops upon request.

"Our motto is that there is always someone living beside the
criminals who knows what's going on," Findlay said.

There have been several marijuana grow operations busted in the Port
Alberni area over the last year.

Police raided and dismantled a commercial marijuana grow operation on
March 22 on Newcastle Road off in the Beaver Creek area. A search of
the outbuildings and property at the remote site resulted in the
seizure of more than 4,000 marijuana plants.

The Port Alberni Drug Unit also searched a residence in the 8700
block of Faber Road on July 12, where police discovered a
medium-sized marijuana grow operation in the basement of the home.
Approximately 300 marijuana plants were seized, along with related
grow-op equipment.

To contact CrimeStoppers, call the tip line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
from anywhere in BC.

Secure on-line tips can also be logged at www.bccrimestoppers.com.