GROW RIPS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY: RCMP

There have been 10 home invasions related to marijuana grow rips over
the past three months in Mission.

These crimes are usually reported by neighbours who believe a break-in
is happening, or by victims shaken up by the incident, said Sgt.
Miriam Dickson, noting growers with as few as eight marijuana plants
have been targeted.

The thieves usually kick the door in, and once inside produce weapons,
like knives, guns, sledgehammers or crowbars, and demand cash and the
plants, explained Dickson, who suspects many of these crimes are not
reported because the victim would also be caught in an illegal
activity and charged.

On March 21 a man phoned police and claimed he and a friend were doing
a grow rip at Cedar Street and Dewdney Trunk Road, but ended up being
taken hostage. The man told police he escaped, but his friend was
still captive in the house. He provided RCMP with a cell phone number
but no name.

It was a disposable phone and couldn't be traced, said
Dickson.

When police arrived at the home, they found a grow op, but no evidence
of anyone captive.

Two men and one woman, believed to be residents of the home, were
arrested, and police returned later in the day with a warrant to seize
the 400 plants.

A day later, an anonymous caller reported a door being kicked in at a
home in the 32100 block of Eagle Terrace. Police found eight marijuana
plants inside.

Other incidents occurred as early as Jan. 8 in the 7700 block of Grand
Street where a door was left open and 400 plants were located. A
couple of days later, 440 plants were discovered in the 33000 block of
Cherry Avenue and 647 plants were seized from a home on Lapwing Crescent.

Wrong houses have also been attacked, such as the incident on Feb. 28
when five suspects wearing balaclavas and face masks forced their way
into a home in the 29700 block of the Lougheed Highway demanding the
plants. A man and his two young children were home at the time, but
were not injured and the suspects left after realizing the house
didn't contain what they wanted.

So far nobody has been injured, but ultimately these actions are
endangering the public when the wrong house is targeted, said Dickson,
who is encouraging the public to report any suspected grow operations
to police by calling 604-826-7161.