HOME INVADERS TARGET LOCAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWER

Medical marijuana users are being warned to be discrete and protect
their homes after a home invasion Monday night targeted a licensed
grower.

RCMP say two men entered the home of a 53-year-old man in east
Chilliwack Monday evening in an attempt to steal legally grown
marijuana. No weapons were produced and the victim fled the home and
called police from a nearby home.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Lea-Anne Dunlop said the victim was uninjured
and that the suspects left in a vehicle without taking anything.

Forensic crews have examined the scene and the investigation is
ongoing.

"In this instance we do believe the victim was targeted for his
marijuana," said Dunlop. She warned licensed growers and users of
medical marijuana to "be discrete about who they share that
information with."

Dunlop said legal and illegal growers of marijuana are viewed as
targets by some would-be robbers.

"Thankfully, in this incident, no one was hurt," she
added.

Just over 1,000 British Columbians possessed a licence to use
marijuana, according to Health Canada. If those users were evenly
spread around the province, 16 would reside in Chilliwack.

Growers should protect their plants and their assets in the same way
that they would protect any other valuable good, said the owner of a
local store who has many customers with medical marijuana licences,
but who didn't want to be named.

"If they have a licence, the second thing they should get is good
security," said the store owner. He recommended commercial security
devices that automatically alert police to break-ins or unauthorized
entries.

Marijuana, the store owner said, "is just like anything. Any kind of
asset can be stolen."

Licence holders must also report the loss or theft of marijuana to
police within 24 hours.