Pubdate: Fri, 12 Apr 2002
Source: Cambridge Reporter, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 The Cambridge Reporter
Contact:  http://www.cambridge-reporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1470
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

POT HOUSE FOUND ON HILBORN AVE.

Hilborn Avenue, home to $300,000 homes and manicured yards, has been busted 
again.

The ritzy street south of Saginaw Parkway was the focus of its third pot 
bust in nine months on Wednesday.

This time, however, police were a mite late in cleaning out a pot grow 
operation.

Police, acting on a tip from Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro Inc., found 
vestiges of a homegrow operation at 8 Hilborn Ave., seizing about $2,000 in 
growing equipment and a small amount of marijuana.

Most of the operation had been dismantled, although there were wires and 
other evidence of an illegal hydro hook-up, said drug squad leader Staff 
Sergeant Ray Massicotte.

"We believe they (the residents of the house) observed the hydro people 
inspecting the property and started to clear out (evidence)," he said.

One female, Lien Trung Vong, 33, was arrested at the residence and charged 
with theft of electricity and possession of a controlled substance.

Regional police made one of their biggest busts in the battle against 
homegrows in February, just up the road at 79 Hilborn. About 1,100 plants, 
with a street value of close to $1 million, were seized.

Another raid executed last July busted a big homegrow at 136 Hilborn.

Police and local firefighters say they are alarmed at the proliferation of 
homegrows as the houses represent a fire hazard to the community.

There have been nearly 90 homegrow busts in the region in the two years.

Residents can help police eliminate these operations by calling 653-7700. 
Evidence submitted need not be conclusive, Massicotte said. Often an 
accumulation of tips is needed to obtain the search warrant needed to bust 
these operations, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager