Pubdate: Sat, 03 Jan 2004 Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Richmond Public Library Contact: http://www.richmondreview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704 Author: Martin van den Hemel 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin