PERSISTENT GROW RIPPERS GET RIGHT HOUSE THIS TIME

A group of violent grow rippers didn't make the same mistake twice,
but their persistence didn't pay off.

Earlier this month, a Richmond couple were bound, blindfolded and held
at gunpoint when three to five masked men, in search of a marijuana
grow op, broke into their house on the 9700 block of Odlin Drive and
entered their bedroom. The 35-year-old husband suffered a gash that
required stitches while his wife was physically unhurt.

Two weeks to the day after that home invasion, those grow rippers
appear to have returned and targeted the right house, which happened
to be almost directly across the street, on the 9600 block of Odlin
Drive.

On Dec. 29, two suspects broke down the front door of the house and
assaulted one of the occupants.

One of the occupants defended himself and struck one suspect over the
head with a golf club.

A second resident was bear sprayed.

When police arrived at the scene, they seized 21 pounds of dried and
packaged marijuana. It wasn't known whether the suspects got away with
any drugs.

Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said generally speaking that grow
rippers aren't looking for a fight during their pursuit of the
valuable B.C. bud. But this particular group doesn't shy away from
violence.

"These guys obviously came prepared for a confrontation."

This is another example of the violence associated with marijuana
growing operations. There have been a number of violent home invasions
that have targeted the homes of innocent people. In one case in the
last couple of years, a marijuana gardener was killed.

"This is yet another example of how organized crime and the
establishment of marijuana grow operations in our communities can and
has directly impacted innocent people," Thiessen said.