KEEN COPS SPOT WEED

Burglary Bust Turns Up Grow-Op

It was a bonus bust for a couple of eagle-eyed cops. Police were
patrolling East Kildonan early Monday morning, when they spotted a
burglary in progress -- at a home they later discovered was being used
to grow marijuana.

"Keen observation skills of our District 4 officers led to this
arrest," said Winnipeg police spokeswoman Const. Shelly Glover.

The officers noticed two men force a basement window at 265 Harbison
Ave. W., and enter the bungalow, while a third man stood nearby as a
lookout.

Moments later, the two men left the house carrying 20 full-grown
marijuana plants, Glover said.

Cops arrested the two men, but the third man escaped.

After obtaining a search warrant, police discovered the
560-square-foot home was being used to house a marijuana grow operation.

300 PLANTS SEIZED

Officers seized more than 300 marijuana plants valued at more than
$336,000.

Two men are facing break-in and marijuana possession-related
charges.

A 24-year-old man, who had been renting the home for at least five
months, is facing charges of growing marijuana, possession of
marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and theft of
electricity.

Police believe the renter wasn't living in the home because they found
no clothes, no food and just minimal furniture, Glover said.

"We see this quite frequently ... where renters will rent homes with
the sole purpose of growing marijuana," Glover said.

"I can tell you we have seen many, many homes destroyed. The humidity
that is created by growing marijuana in a home is tremendous and it
really does rot the inside of a house out."

The house was assessed at $37,700, according to city
records.

Glover said insurance doesn't cover damage to a home caused by a
marijuana grow op, so landlords should be careful about who they rent
to.

She suggested landlords should request valid photo identification from
a prospective tenant and also not accept cash for rent. Police suspect
the burglars knew the house contained pot.

"It would be an assumption, but I think they had a heads up," Glover
said.

Neighbours were surprised to hear marijuana was being cultivated on
the quiet street.

Elaine Wolfram, 58, said her next-door neighbour moved in shortly
after a 20-something woman hanged herself in the house in the summer.

"My husband used to say hi to him," Wolfram recalled. "He seemed like
a nice kid. He seems to go to work every day."