Pubdate: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Maple Ridge News Contact: http://www.mapleridgenews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328 B.C. HYDRO LAUNCHES GROW-OP TIP LINE The provincial electricity provider is powering up a program to eliminate grow-ops. B.C. Hydro is partnering with Crime Stoppers in establishing a tip line to report people who may be stealing electricity, a common activity of people with indoor marijuana plantations. Hydro's energy diversion investigators can now receive addresses of suspected grow-ops reported to the Crime Stoppers tip line. Where evidence of theft is found, B.C. Hydro lays complaints with law enforcement agencies, which in turn obtain search warrants and recommend charging suspects. "We believe that the partnership will increase identification of electricity theft and ultimately assist police in shutting down grow-ops in B.C.," said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General John Les. "Our government is working to put a stop to marijuana grow-ops by improving links between BC Hydro, local governments, and safety and law enforcement agencies." Anyone who knows of a suspected marijuana grow operation can call the Crime Stoppers tip line from anywhere in British Columbia. The organization will then refer those tips to the police and advise B.C. Hydro of the addresses. Spotting a grow operation . Discarded equipment: Sometimes growers leave equipment lying around the yard such as nutrient containers, pots, wiring, soil, root balls, aluminum shrouds and PVC piping. . Unusual visitor behaviour: Inconsistencies in visitors to and from the residence, ranging from no visitors giving the appearance of seclusion, to frequent visitors for short time periods. Visitors will often leave one person waiting in the car while the other enters the premises. . Covered windows: Covered with black plastic, heavy curtains pressed against the windows or blinds that are tightly shut and pressed against the windows. . Condensation: Humidity inside a grow room is approximately 65 per cent with temperatures ranging between 80 to 90 F. These conditions manifest themselves through condensation on windows. . Smells and odours: Skunk-like odour mixed with a sweet vegetative smell or the unique smell of rotting cabbage. Also, the odor of moth balls, chlorine, manure, soap and/or air freshener is frequently utilized in trying to mask the smell of the operation. . Electrical humming, fans, trickling water: Some electrical components in an indoor operation create humming sounds similar to a transformer on a hydro pole. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek