CHILDREN FOUND IN GROW-OP

Burnaby RCMP officers were shaking their heads after finding two
children in a home being used for a marijuana grow operation. Mounties
executed a search warrant on a home in the 4500-block of Sunland Place
on Jan. 16 after a tip about a possible theft of electricity prompted
an investigation for a possible grow-op.

Officers found a very sophisticated grow-op, with more than 400
plants, in the basement. They also found two kids, aged 11 and 13,
living in the house. Not only that, the splicing of power to divert
Hydro was done inside the wall of the children's bedroom, there were
numerous locks on all the doors, and the fire risk was very high,
making it a real possibility no one would be able to escape if a fire
did start. Grow operations cause major health risks inside homes due
to the high humidity and temperatures leading to mould and fungus and
chemicals left to circulate inside.

The Ministry of Children and Families were contacted out of concern
for the children's safety.

Police arrested the children's parents, neither of whom have any
history with police. The family had rented the home for about one year.