GROW RIPPERS HIT WRONG HOME

Richmond's latest home invasion could be a sign of things to come, police
are warning, with innocent people victimized by the city's growing
marijuana industry.

On Monday around 1:30 a.m., police say at least four men broke into a house
at 7360 Montana Rd., looking to steal some B.C. bud. Instead, they
encountered four people inside, and no signs of any green. Police say they
previously dismantled a grow-op at that address some time ago, but this
time it was clean.

One of the victims, who spoke to The Richmond Review on condition of
anonymity, said after some loud banging some men kicked in a window to the
house and proceeded to go through it, kicking down doors in search of
something.

The suspects demanded "money, money," the victim said.

"I was scared at that time and they searched my jacket."

A recent immigrant from Taiwan, the victim said he had no idea that the
house he was living in was previously a grow-op. "If I knew this I would
not come here."

The victim was reluctant to reveal too much about what happened because he
is scared the suspects will return to the home and hurt him.

"Police say they caught everyone, but who knows."

The victim said he was renting a single room on the house, and that three
others live there, including two men and a woman. Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter
Thiessen said prospective renters or property buyers should do their
homework before moving into a new home.

"It may be prudent for them to determine if there's ever been a grow op,"
Thiessen suggested. "They run the risk of becoming an innocent victim."

It may be wise to speak to neighbours and previous owners if the house has
ever been used to grow marijuana, he said.

A police dog team tracked and arrested one man near the scene and police
later found several weapons believed to have been used in the home invasion.

Later that same day, police arrested three other suspects.

Charged with break-and-enter, robbery and use of an imitation weapon while
committing robbery are: Robert Allen Dawson, 19, Peter Brandon Stevens, 18,
Fraser Paul Williams, 20, and Joshua David Berner, 19.

In January, The Richmond Review revealed that as many as 20 groups of armed
bandits are routinely lurking through Richmond neighbourhoods, looking for
marijuana grow ops.

Richmond is home to an estimated 500 grow ops, police believe.

It could be just a matter of time before these grow rippers encounter an
innocent family and someone is killed, police said.

In many cases in recent years, grow rippers have been armed to the teeth,
brandishing sawed-off shotguns and wearing bullet-proof vests while kicking
in the front door of suspected grow ops.

In one incident last September, someone tending a marijuana grow-op was
beaten to death by a group of grow-rippers at a house on No. 4 Road.

Grow rippers don't fear being prosecuted for these break-ins because the
victims, who are often growing marijuana, generally don't press charges.