Pubdate: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2005 The Media News Group Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Note: Does not print letters from outside circulation area Author: Greg Welter, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWS CREATING "TARGET-RICH" ENVIRONMENT FOR THIEVES Thefts from marijuana gardens in Butte County are increasing in number, and they're becoming increasingly violent, authorities believe. Plants grown legally for medicinal purposes -- often in gardens visible from roadways -- have created popular target for thieves. In the past two weeks, police agencies have responded to three incidents where violence accompanied attempts to burglarize property with pot plants -- turning two of them into armed robberies, and one into an arson investigation. On Oct. 6 three men wearing camouflage clothing cleaned out a small medicinal marijuana grow off Highway 70 near Yankee Hill. The men ran from the property, firing a shot in the general direction of the victim. He was growing 12 plants for friends and showed authorities three prescriptions from a physician. Five days later, a Chico woman who grows medical marijuana on property owned by her mother near Third and Mangrove avenues heard boards being torn away from a fence beside the garden and went to investigate. She discovered a male adult pulling her mature marijuana plants through slants in the fence. When she began a tug-of-war with the man, he produced a small-caliber handgun and reportedly said, "I have a gun." The victim, who wasn't identified, allegedly replied, "I don't care. You're not getting my medicine." The armed man fled to a vehicle followed by the victim's mother, who was knocked to the ground when she tried to stop him. The victim's dog also gave chase and was hit and killed by a vehicle not involved in the incident. On Sunday, Butte County sheriff's deputies investigated a structure fire in Oroville intentionally set as a diversion by a man attempting to steal medical marijuana. Patrick Kelly Trevino, 34, was arrested for the crimes three days later at his place of employment. Sgt. Dennis Cooley, with Butte County's special enforcement unit, said most marijuana gardens have been harvested, leaving thieves to go after the finished product. On Halloween night last year, two males wearing masks knocked on a door on White Avenue and demanded, at gunpoint, a pound of marijuana the occupants legally possessed for medical purposes. They reportedly filled two trick-or-treat bags the occupants kept in a freezer. The victim fired two rounds from a shotgun at the fleeing men. No one was hit. Earlier in October 2004, processed medical marijuana was stolen at gunpoint from victims in Forest Ranch. "All these medical marijuana grows have created a target-rich environment," Cooley said. "There is no shortage of marijuana on the street," Cooley said, noting that some people would rather steal it than buy it. "If anything, there's more pot available than in past years," said Cooley. Under Proposition 215, approved by California voters in 1996, it has been legal to grow and possess a small amount of marijuana for personal medical use, with a physician's authorization.