GROW-RIPS PUTTING NEIGHBOURS AT RISK

Police are investigating a grow-rip after four armed men forced their
way into a family's home in southeast Vancouver early yesterday morning.

Vancouver Police Const. Tim Fanning said the home invaders, armed with
knives and possibly a gun, used a ladder to get into the home through
a second-storey window just before 1:00 a.m.

Once inside, the suspects rounded up the family of five, including an
11-year-old child, and robbed them.

Police were called to the home shortly after the bandana-clad suspects
left, but that didn't stop them from finding more than six kilos of
dried marijuana.

No charges have been laid yet, but police are now investigating the
invasion itself and also the owner of the home for drug-related offences.

"It's a real risk to the community," said Fanning about the grow-rip.
"Once [criminals] know there is a grow operation in the neighbourhood
it puts everyone in danger. We often find weapons in the houses we
search because it's such a risky business."