GREEN TEAM ON THE JOB

Neighbours of the many marijuana grow ops in the city do have reason
to worry, according to Cpl. Mark McCutcheon, the officer in charge of
Burnaby RCMP's Green Team.

Fire from the electricity and someone coming in to steal from the grow
op - known as a 'rip' - and getting the wrong house are the biggest
dangers.

"If my neighbour was growing, I'd be concerned that they'd get my
house instead of his house, and fire," McCutcheon said. "That'd be my
two major concerns."

Fires are so common in marijuana grow ops, it's often how police find
them.

Interfering with the wiring, which involves cutting into the hydro
wires, and the 1,000-watt light-bulbs growers use are invitations to
burn.

Those who come in to steal from a grow op are often prepared for any
danger and have weapons - which is how innocent neighbours and
bystanders end up stabbed or shot.

People who have the grow ops are aware of this danger, something
police have to keep in mind when raiding a grow op, McCutcheon said.

"Sometimes the people inside are armed as well because they are quite
fearful," he said, adding police also have to be aware of the dangers
of armed growers.

"Just like when we go in, we're quite fearful of something like
that."

The city's four Green Team police officers are working through a list
of more than 200 possible grow ops.

Last year they acted on 68 warrants, making 107 arrests and
recommending 278 charges.

Tips from the public are only just now getting acted on, he
explained.

"We're just trying to get hold of the investigations we already had,"
McCutcheon said, adding they're almost ready to move on. "We're
getting to the point where we're looking for public input."

People who phone in with tips can remain anonymous, but McCutcheon
said it helps the police if they can call back to get more
information.

Houses that have been the site of grow ops aren't left untouched after
the police have been through it.

"Once the house is raided, the power's cut, then all the equipment's
seized, as well as all paraphernalia related to growing marijuana,"
McCutcheon said.

Police might also check with the city to see if that homeowner has
other houses - and then investigate to see if they're sites for grow
ops as well.