HTTP/1.0 200 OK Content-Type: text/html Grow-Rip Scares Retirees 
Pubdate: Thu, 26 May 2005
Source: Aldergrove Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Central Fraser Valley Star Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.aldergrovestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/989
Author: Kurt Langmann
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW-RIP SCARES RETIREES

A retired couple was rudely awakened late at night on the weekend when a 
group of thugs tried to break into a home next door in what turned out to 
be an unsuccessful effort to raid a marijuana grow operation - a so-called 
"grow-rip."

The couple, whose names are being withheld by The Star, reside in an older 
residential community just to the north of Aldergrove Secondary. At 4:30 
a.m., Monday, they heard smashing noises and presuming it to be another 
vandalism attack on the community mailbox they ran out in their pyjamas.

"My wife was first out because I was still putting on my clothes and she 
came back hollering to call 9-1-1, because there's a couple guys kicking in 
the door to the house next door," said the husband. "And they're yelling 
back saying not to bother because, 'We're police, we're busting a grow-op.'

"But my wife ran up to them and said, 'You're not police,' so I ran back 
inside to call 9-1-1. The dispatcher doesn't want you to hang up until 
police arrive, and it was a wall phone so I couldn't go outside with the 
phone. The dispatcher said it would take 10 to 15 minutes for the police to 
come, so my wife was outside on her own and when she tried to get the plate 
number of their truck - a big, white, expensive SUV - one of them 
threatened her with a tire iron or crowbar. But they jumped into the truck 
and took off."

Three police cars arrived and when officers entered the home they 
discovered a marijuana grow operation and hydro bypass, and that the home's 
resident had disappeared into the night. The RCMP "Green Team" returned 
later that day with a warrant to clean out the grow-op.

Police said the neighbours were wrong to try to interfere because of the 
extreme risk involved, and should have called RCMP immediately from the 
safety of their own home.

"They said we could have been hurt," said the husband.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth