Pubdate: Thu, 02 Aug 2007
Source: Leaside-Rosedale Town Crier (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 Town Crier Media Inc.
Contact:  http://www.towncrieronline.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2362
Author: Karolyn Coorsh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

POT'S BECOMING GROWTH INDUSTRY IN NORTH AREA

Busts Of Marijuana Grow-Ops Have Double In 32 Division This Year

Police are warning landlords to be on the lookout for  marijuana grow 
houses sprouting up in residential  neighbourhoods.

The city's drug squad has dismantled 12 grow-ops in 32  Division so 
far this year, double that reported in  mid-2006. Those types of 
operations are popping up at  the north end of the city due to the 
availability of  rental units, says Detective Sergeant David Malcolm, 
of  the drug squad.

"That area of the city has a large number of apartment  buildings and 
it also has a large number of single  family homes," he said. 
"There's not the availability  downtown of rental units and (it's a) 
little bit more  expensive to rent downtown."

Malcolm says grow house operators are becoming savvy,  and look to 
the northern end of the city for rentals  that can be easily 
converted to grow-op use. They also  prey on absentee or 
inexperienced landlords.

"They are going to take advantage of someone that maybe  has 
inherited their parents' house," he said.

In June, a man and woman were arrested after police  seized about 
$129,000 worth of marijuana plants and  other hallucinogenic drugs in 
a home near Marlee and  Glencairn Aves. A child was also found in the 
home and  is now in the custody of foster parents.

On July 8, police busted a sophisticated grow-op in an  older 
apartment building near Finch Ave. and Leslie  St., seizing 245 
marijuana plants, along with equipment  such as timers, exhaust fans 
and high-intensity lights.

The police were notified after property management  discovered a water leak.

According to Malcolm, such operations cause headaches  for landlords, 
as there are often fire and health  hazards due to loose wiring and 
high levels of  humidity.

"By putting 300 plants inside a house or apartment you  have extreme 
humidity," he said. "You have a disaster  waiting to happen for mould 
build-up."

Once a grow-op is uncovered in a rental property, the  city's health 
and standards departments often conduct  its own investigation of the 
property, says Bryan Byng,  licensing and standards director for 
North York. If  city departments don't board up the residence, 
any  damage is left to the landlords to repair.

"They're stuck with it," Byng said.

Signs a grow house may be operating in a neighbourhood  include 
residents who are home only a few hours each  day, skunk-like odours 
coming from a house and window  coverings that are never opened.

A police community bulletin suggests landlords should  be taking a 
proactive approach to preventing the  potential for a grow-op by 
carefully screening new  tenants and establishing strict inspection conditions.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom