MARIJUANA STOLEN FROM COP STATION

KELOWNA, B.C. -- Brazen thieves broke into a local RCMP compound and stole
several bushels of marijuana seized in a drug raid earlier in the day.

The stunning late-night theft of 250 pot plants from the detachment
happened two weeks ago, but was not revealed by red-faced Mounties.
"Obviously, embarrassed is one word you could use to describe how we feel,"
Kelowna RCMP Const. Garth Letcher said.

"Clearly, we didn't have the kind of security we should have had to prevent
this type of theft from occurring."

No one has been arrested in connection with the Aug. 9 theft at the
downtown police station.

Some of the stolen pot has been re-sold on city streets and the thieves are
being hailed as folklore heroes by those involved in Kelowna's drug trade.

"Imagine having the balls to go steal dope right from the cops - that's
awesome!" said a man who'd heard of the audacious theft from drug dealers
in a local park.

The marijuana had been confiscated on the morning of the theft during a
police raid on a house.

As with all marijuana seizures, it was stored outside the police detachment
in a small open-air compound protected by two chain link fences. One fence
had razor wire at the top, but the other did not. It appears the thieves
simply jumped into the compound from the roof of the adjacent Kelowna
Community Theatre or from the police station itself.

Then they hoisted out five garbage bags filled with the crushed-up plants.

None of the officers on shift in the station that night noticed anything
unusual, police said.

The drug compound cannot be seen by security cameras and it wasn't
protected by motion sensors or alarms.

The theft was discovered the next morning by officers who arrived at the
compound to take the marijuana away for destruction.

Police say each pot plant had a potential street value of as much as $1,000.