NEIGHBOURS CHEER AS POLICE BUST GROW OP

Residents of Westwood Plateau's Platinum Lane are building their
neighbourhood from the ground up.

Since Bruce Gray moved into the new Coquitlam development in January 2001,
he has had nothing but good experiences with his neighbours. They pitched
in when he built his backyard and they help each other on various
home-related projects.

"That's what sort of brought our community together," he said.

So when a neighbour moved in a few months ago and never tried to be a part
of the close-knit community, the neighbours got a little suspicious.

"You don't know the neighbours. You don't see them, the blinds are always
closed and the lights come on at the same time," Gray said.

The neighbours began talking and slowly pieced together just what might be
going on in one of Coquitlam's newest neighbourhoods.

"A big indication was the moisture coming off the house," Gray said.

To the cheers of at least 25 neighbours, Coquitlam RCMP entered the home
Sunday and discovered a grow operation.

"It was half a cheer that they were gone and half a cheer that the RCMP was
helping us out," Gray said, adding he saw about a dozen pot plants when he
peeked into the basement.

"When officers came out they said it was on three floors," Gray said. "It
was quite a significant grow op. I'm glad to see it gone."

A 43-year-old Vancouver woman was arrested in connection with the Platinum
Lane grow op and is scheduled to appear in court, said RCMP.

"It wasn't like a drug house with constant traffic. It was someone who
showed up at night, did maintenance and went home," Gray said. "There was
no one living in the house. It was being used as a greenhouse."

In seven warrants served last week in the Westwood Plateau area, Coquitlam
RCMP arrested 11 people and seized more than 3,900 plants. Charges will
range from cultivation of marijuana to theft of hydro.

RCMP Cpl. Pierre Lemaitre said several of the homes suffered damage due to
high humidity.