FINDING GROW-OPS IS OFTEN POT LUCK ...

Luck played a big role in police raids at four city homes last year
that led to nearly $1 million in marijuana. But it didn't stay for court.

It was complaints of power "brownouts" in neighbouring homes that
intially caused police to set up survelliance at a $170,000 north side
house in mid-January 2003.

For nine consecutive hours on Jan. 14 and 15 last year, snow fell on
the city, according to Environment Canada records.

As police watched, a woman appeared at their target house to shovel
that snow.

Then, "We followed her from one house to the next to the next," said
detective Clayton Sach, a member of the RCMP-Edmonton police Green
Team.

With warrants, the police moved on all four homes - valued between
$150,000 and $200,000 - on Jan. 16.

In the last of the four, three people were found. Two were hanging
blinds, one was in the basement, allegedly working on an electrical
system. There were signs, police said, that a grow op was being
established.

Police charged the owners of the homes, alleging nobody lived in them
and they were purchased strictly for grow operations. "No food, no
furniture, no bed and the fridge not plugged in," said RCMP Cpl. Lorne
Adamitz. Two of the owners were among the three people found in the
last home. Another homeowner charged later was also the owner of a
city hydroponics shop.

That's where the cops' luck would run out. Of five people charged
under eight counts, only one guilty plea was made and a 20-month
conditional sentence was handed down.