WATCHING FOR GROW-OPS BEGINS

Chilliwack resident Helen Isaac always believed illegal marijuana
grow-operations were in other neighbourhoods, not hers. It just never
occurred to her.

We always thought that it was the kind of thing that happened somewhere
else," she says. That is, until a few months ago, when a very ordinary
looking family home turned out to be a grow-op. It was only a block and a
half away."

The Sardis residents are watching as Rod Kovich of the city's sign
maintenance department installs the first ever Grow Watch sign on Lancaster
avenue. The new sign which warns that "neighbours are watching, recording
and reporting" fits snugly just above the Block Watch sign.

Katie Vast lives on the street where the first Grow Watch sign in
Chilliwack is going up.

It's a good idea. We're hoping it will work," she says.

Vast says one of the local block captains with Block Watch, Pat Conrad,
approached her with the idea of signing up the neighbourhood and she liked
the idea.

Grow Watch is an action plan developed in Chilliwack by RCMP in conjunction
with the volunteer-run Block Watch. Based on citizen involvement, it's
geared to showing people how to identify a grow-op, assisting them to
report suspicious activity, and discouraging grow-ops with the special signage.

Isaac lives in one of about 20 Chilliwack 'blocks' or neighbourhood sectors
that have become certified with the new Grow Watch program.

Those who favour the concept behind it say Grow Watch is a pro-active step
to empower neighbourhoods and prevent crime, others suggest it could lead
to some overzealous people overstepping the bounds of privacy.

Isaac says the Grow Watch program will help local residents like her
identify what an illegal grow-op looks like, anything from foil on the
windows, to the strong smell.

This will make us more aware of what to look for," she says. I didn't
realize what some of the signs were until I started going over the material."

Grow Watch coordinator Const. Krista Vrolyk says the aim is to deter the
grow-op types from investing in the area by erecting Grow Watch signs in
various neighbourhoods.

Grow Watch will allow Chilliwack RCMP to continue to be at the forefront"
in the fight against illegal grows in the community, Const. Vrolyk says.

A Grow Watch sign means that neighbours have been trained to ID grow-ops
and record the information police need to obtain search warrants.

Eighty per cent of the residents of a given area must agree to sign a
letter of participation in order for the neighbourhood to be certified for
the Grow Watch program.