Crime Sift

This is provided for informational purposes only. While grow operations are appearing on a regular basis in residential neighborhoods they are also usually connected to organized crime. Do not take it upon yourself to investigate a suspected grow operation. Contact the police.

Below are the common indicators that there may be one of these in your neighborhood.

1) Rental buildings (residential and commercial) are often used so criminals avoid damage to their own property. This results from the high humidity levels and alterations to the property to accommodate the grow operation.

2) Tenants may pay rent in cash and while having no known source of income, drive expensive cars and use cell phones & pagers. Tenants may be reluctant to allow landlords to inspect their rented property and/or make arrangements to meet landlords away from the property to pay rent and/or discuss problems.

3) Prior history of premises. Residence and/or commercial premises have been used as marijuana grow operations in the past. Many of these rental properties are known among the criminal element as having been used for growing marijuana then repeatedly used again.

4) House or utilities obtained under assumed names with payment made in cash.

5) Unexplained and unseasonably high utility bills.

6) New neighbors never taking furniture or groceries into the house.

7) Residents may only be in the home occasionally for short periods of time.

People access the residence only through the garage.

9) Unusual visitor behavior ranging from no visitors to frequent visitors for short periods. Visitors will often leave one person waiting in the car while the other enters the premises.

10) People continually bringing items and taking items away in garbage bags.

11) Water lines and/or electrical cords running to the basement or outbuilding. Outbuildings that have air conditioners.

12) Residence or outbuilding has unusual amount of roof vents or exhaust fan noises.

13) Windows covered with dark plastic or newspaper.

14) Condensation forms on windows due to high humidity levels inside. Humidity inside a grow room is approximately 65% with temperatures ranging between 80 to 90 F. These conditions manifest themselves through condensation on windows. This may also result in lack of snow on the roof in winter.

15) Unusual amounts of steam coming from vents in the house in cold weather.

16) Skunk-like odour of growing marihuana can occasionally be detected outside. Also, the odor of moth balls, chlorine, manure, soap and/or air freshener is frequently utilized ways of trying to mask the smell of the operation.

17) Unusual garbage or items left in the yard. Sometimes growers leave equipment lying around the yard such as nutrient containers, pots, wiring, soil, root balls, aluminum shrouds and PVC piping. On garbage day, a grow-op residence most likely will not put out any garbage due to the fact that grow houses are commonly used for the sole purpose of growing marijuana.

18) Electrical equipment inside creates humming sounds. Some electrical components in an indoor operation create humming sounds similar to a transformer on a hydro pole.

19) Unusual noises such as hammering or drilling into the basement foundation. May indicate an attempt to bypass hydro meter.

20) Hydro meter is often tampered with or bypassed. This includes evidence of tampering with the electric meter (damaged or broken seals) or the ground around it.

21) Localized power surges/browning: Neighbourhood residences experience unexplained power surges or power “browning” (decrease of power which dims lights & slows down appliance use) with the return of normal power flow approximately 12 hours later.

22) High intensity 1000 watt lamps are normally used and sometimes not completely disguised. These lights are the same as used in outdoor public swimming pools, school gyms, outdoor football & baseball parks.

23) Grow operations may use other “props” to deflect suspicion. Some of these include: outdoor and/or indoor lights, radio and/or TV on for 24 hours, flyers left in mailbox or on the front steps, children’s toys & bikes outside without children living at the residence, realty signs posted.

24) A “Beware of Dog/Guard Dog” sign may be used to deter trespassing, protect against theft and avoid detection by police.

For more information about grow operations see the Winnipeg Police Service, the Abbotsford Police Department, or the RCMP.