APRIL 14, 2000

sage Auto
= Bright Lights
{ Classifieds
Crossword
7a Lautens
i Mercer
Real Estate
Talking Personals

1139 Lonsdale Avenue Non vx c
Canazar Pubhcations Mad Sake. Product A3*

The Voice ct North and West Vancouver since 1969

WEST Vancouver Police Const. Fred Harding with some of the marijuana crop seized at a British Properties home on Tuesday afternoon.
Local officers have uncovered 17 grow operations so far this year — often as the resuit of neighbourhood tips.

Jan-Christian Sorensen

{ =
Contributing Writer

THERE’S a growing problem in West
Vancouver’s upscale British Properties.

In the first three months of this year, West Vancouver
Police have investigated 16 separate residential marijuana
growing operations there — a 400% increase over 1999.

Tuesday night at Collingwood School, West Vancouver
Police held a forum to inform landlords and residents on mar-
jjuana grow operations and how to spot such enterprise in
their community.

West Vancouver Spt. Jim Almas told a small gathering chat
the frequency of pot busts in the British Properties is taking,
place at an alarming, rate. A full 99% of the grow operations
are found in rental propertics.

SKIL

3/8 Variable Speed

BRILL

0-2250 rex por minvia.

Reversible feature, 3.5 omps of power.

SKU 412409925
reg $89.99

@ Van ant
sare |

Mall)

TION THIS SATURDAY 1OAM

Open Road p33 Coupon clipper p51

Power to spare in
new Saab Viggen

Pot growers favour British
Properties; police kept hopping
As if to underscore that remark, only a few hours before

the forum police raided another grow operation in that locale
ded a crop of 78 plants. The suspected grower, how-

ever, managed to elude police and a warrant has been issued

for his arrest.

Just last month another raid was made on a grow operation
in a home adjacent to an elementary school.

“It is unfortunate, bur it’s a face thar B.C. bud is a hot
commodity in today’s illegal drug, market,” said Almas, who
also linked grow operations to a rise in property and violent
crimes and a decrease in home values.

Along with representatives from BC Hydro, The Insurance

BOSCH

3/8 Keyless Chuck —

0-250 rev pec minute. 5 omps
of power, Sosch reliability.

SKY 812409942 SKU #12652220

www. nsnews.com

27/16 max cst at 90:

feg 607

Turn to Classifieds for

Mark Armanini
premieres new
Asian concerto

This Week p15

FREE

More
pot
seized

WEST Vancouver
Police raided their
second British
Properties home in
a week on

Thursday morning.

Sgt. Jim Almas said a
search warrant based on an
anonymous tip was carried
out at about 10:30 a.m.

Aman found on the
premises was taken into cus-
tody and is facing criminal
charges

Police seized 90 marijuana
plants and hydroponic equip-
ment.

Almas said the house is
located in the same block as
another grow operation
uncovered by police ovo
weeks ago.

Along with a search war-
rant carried out on Tuesday
afternoon, the bust brings the
week's total seizures to 168
plants.

NEWS photo Terry Peters

—Katharine Hamer

Crime Prevention Bureau and the Landlord Tenancy Branch,
Almas detailed the warning signs that could alert residents to
the presence of a grow operation in their neighbourhood.

For one, most operations use industrial, 1,000-watt lamps
to provide heat for the plants, and growers may seal up the

ows with black plastic — both to prevent light from
escaping and to keep out prying eyes.

‘Almas also said to watch for an unusual degree of conden-
sation on the inside of windows. The humidity inside « grow
operation is typically 60% and temperatures hover between 80
and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, producing a prime breeding
ground for the type of rot often found in leaky condos.

A faint electrical hum may also be audible, and a sickly-
sweet skunk-like odour emanating from the house is another
sure bet.

See Marijuana page 4

SKIL
Voriable Speed

JIG SAW

2 yeor hoine use warranty. Anti

bose. 3.2 cmps of power.
SKU #1 2685590 :
reg $77.99

% SALE
DRIVE YOUR :FAVORITE- TOOL: