POT'S BECOMING GROWTH INDUSTRY IN NORTH AREA

Busts Of Marijuana Grow-Ops Have Double In 32 Division This Year

Police are warning landlords to be on the lookout for marijuana grow
houses sprouting up in residential neighbourhoods.

The city's drug squad has dismantled 12 grow-ops in 32 Division so
far this year, double that reported in mid-2006. Those types of
operations are popping up at the north end of the city due to the
availability of rental units, says Detective Sergeant David Malcolm,
of the drug squad.

"That area of the city has a large number of apartment buildings and
it also has a large number of single family homes," he said.
"There's not the availability downtown of rental units and (it's a)
little bit more expensive to rent downtown."

Malcolm says grow house operators are becoming savvy, and look to
the northern end of the city for rentals that can be easily
converted to grow-op use. They also prey on absentee or
inexperienced landlords.

"They are going to take advantage of someone that maybe has
inherited their parents' house," he said.

In June, a man and woman were arrested after police seized about
$129,000 worth of marijuana plants and other hallucinogenic drugs in
a home near Marlee and Glencairn Aves. A child was also found in the
home and is now in the custody of foster parents.

On July 8, police busted a sophisticated grow-op in an older
apartment building near Finch Ave. and Leslie St., seizing 245
marijuana plants, along with equipment such as timers, exhaust fans
and high-intensity lights.

The police were notified after property management discovered a water leak.

According to Malcolm, such operations cause headaches for landlords,
as there are often fire and health hazards due to loose wiring and
high levels of humidity.

"By putting 300 plants inside a house or apartment you have extreme
humidity," he said. "You have a disaster waiting to happen for mould
build-up."

Once a grow-op is uncovered in a rental property, the city's health
and standards departments often conduct its own investigation of the
property, says Bryan Byng, licensing and standards director for
North York. If city departments don't board up the residence,
any damage is left to the landlords to repair.

"They're stuck with it," Byng said.

Signs a grow house may be operating in a neighbourhood include
residents who are home only a few hours each day, skunk-like odours
coming from a house and window coverings that are never opened.

A police community bulletin suggests landlords should be taking a
proactive approach to preventing the potential for a grow-op by
carefully screening new tenants and establishing strict inspection conditions.