GARDENING SUPPLY STORES UPGRADE SECURITY AFTER BREAK-INS

SOUTHGATE -- Indoor gardening supply stores Downriver are stepping up
their security as more thieves are targeting their high-priced merchandise.

At about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, HydroGiant, 19363 Eureka Road, was
broken into for the second time this summer.

HydroGiant, along with others such as the Cultivation Station in
Allen Park and HTG Supply in Taylor, sell high tech garden supplies
to help people start growing medical marijuana and other indoor
plants and vegetables.

With Michigan voters approving marijuana use as a medicine in 2008,
more shops like these are opening.

In reaction to the new law, some municipalities -- including
Melvindale, Trenton and Southgate -- recently have considered
revising their ordinances to accommodate and restrict marijuana
distribution facilities.

This time, the thief who stole from HydroGiant got away with about
$6,000 of merchandise.

Frank Smith, a HydroGiant manager, said the thief broke the glass on
the front door and was able to unlock it to get inside.

Smith said a man can be seen on surveillance video entering the store
with a garbage barrel.

The man loaded some 1,000-watt digital ballasts for powering lights
into the trash can.

"He ran it out and came back in real quick and took two or three more
ballasts," Smith said.

The ballasts cost between $450 and $500 each.

Smith said about a month ago, thieves broke in through the back door
and stole several ballasts and lighting hoods.

"They are the most needed and most expensive," Smith said.

Aaron Kerr, a manager at the Cultivation Station, 6540 Allen Road,
Allen Park, said he had heard about the break-in at HydroGiant and,
coincidentally, was installing extra security cameras the next day.

The store has been open for about two years. It was broken into
before it even opened for business.

Kerr said employees had stock in the store and were setting up
shelving when the store was broken into. The thieves also took ballasts.

Since then, the store has installed several surveillance cameras and
taken other precautions.

"We have some higher-ticketed items and try to protect ours as much
as possible," Kerr said. "We have cameras and a security system, and
we try to watch our customers. We finally just started locking the
front door and only using the back door."

Kerr said he used to work for Superior Growers Supply in Livonia, and
it was broken into twice, with the thieves netting about $50,000 in
merchandise.

"Whoever broke in there knew what they were doing and took all
ballasts, light bulbs and other high-ticket things -- things people
use to get started," Kerr said.

The man who broke into HydroGiant is described as 5 feet 10 inches
tall, weighing about 280 pounds and with blond hair. He might have
been driving a black truck.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southgate police at 1-734-258-3060.