GROW-OPS LEAVING THE URBAN AREAS

Crime analysis shows marijuana grow operations are moving to bigger
houses, hiding behind more bushes and growing more dope than ever.

The grow-ops' changing profile has emerged in response to authorities'
crackdowns, says RCMP crime analyst Parvir Girn.

"Grow-ops tend to be located on properties five times the average lot
size," she said. "This was [likely] the result of efforts to avoid
detection."

Girn, 31, a civilian member of Surrey's force, spent eight months
crunching numbers from 1,087 Surrey grow-ops busted during 2004-06.
The result was a master's thesis for the University College of the
Fraser Valley and a report to Surrey council on Monday.

In it, she said police green teams and non-traditional approaches such
as electrical inspections have prompted growers' changing tactics.

The report says that the average grow-op house is on an
18,113-square-foot lot. "Producers increase production and minimize
detection," said Girn. She said police find it harder to obtain
grounds for a search warrant at a large property because they must
remain off-site while making observations.

Girn found the average grow-op has expanded from 257 plants to 488,
with 178 per cent more lights.

"Everything seems to be getting bigger," said RCMP Sgt. Scott Rintoul.
"We're seeing export shipments of 500 pounds instead of 50."

Grow-ops use more than 93 kw/h of electricity per day, three times
normal consumption. And they are 24 times more likely to catch fire
than ordinary houses.

Homes are guarded by dogs, "deliberate booby traps," guns and axes.
Rintoul said the weapons are not directed at the public but designed
to thwart ripoffs.

Convicted operators are likely to serve sentences of "a few months."
The industry is estimated to bring in at least $2 billion annually in
B.C.

Grow-ops are moving away from urban areas of the Lower Mainland to the
Fraser Valley and beyond. The number of Ridge-Meadows grow-ops "coming
to police attention" is down this year.

"They're going where a bigger piece of property may draw less
attention," said Rintoul.