DO YOU LIVE NEXT TO A GROW OP?

Outward signs can be a dead giveaway

Do you suspect your pothead neighbours are housing an indoor marijuana grow
operation? You might be right.

The Winnipeg Police Service has issued a list of the many outward signs
citizens should look for if they believe they are living next to an illegal
and highly dangerous grow op.

That list includes: evidence of tampering with the electric meter (damaged
or broken seals), strange smells or overpowering smells of fabric softener
and water lines and/or electrical cords running to the basement or an
outbuilding.

"They should watch for ice buildup on the outside of the home and watch for
any windows that are concealed with some kind of obstacle like garbage
bags," Winnipeg police spokeswoman Const. Shelly Glover said.

In the winter, a house with a marijuana grow operation may stand out because
it won't have snow on the rooftop compared with the snow-covered rooftops of
surrounding homes.

Some homes that have been busted recently have been used exclusively to grow
pot, with the owners -- who are never seen bringing in groceries or putting
out the garbage because they're not living there -- making very short or
late-night visits.

Cops also remind landlords that they should be regularly monitoring their
properties for any criminal activity.

"The first thing that you need to do as a landlord is to make sure that you
positively identify the person that is renting your property and that should
be done with photo identification not just a simple verbal exchange," Glover
said.

"Then they should make sure their contract includes a clause allowing them
to enter the home for emergencies."

Police advise landlords not to accept rent in cash only.

"If somebody is paying you in cash every time they pay their rent, perhaps
that should be looked into a little more," Glover said.