West Vancouver police have busted a marijuana grow-op in the upscale British Properties neighbourhood for the second time in less than a week.
On Wednesday, July 20, police were responding to an unrelated call in the area, when an officer noticed some signs of a possible grow-op in a home on the 500-block of Southborough Drive.
"The primary indicator was the skunky smell," Const. Kellie English told ctvbc.ca. "But other signs can be condensation on the windows and blacked-out windows keeping the high powered light from inside from getting out."
Police obtained a search warrant for the residence and upon entering the next day, found approximately 900 mature, thigh-high marijuana plants growing inside the home on the main and top floors, as well as in the garage.
The plants were confiscated and the operation was dismantled by police. No one was home at the time and no arrests have been made yet, but West Vancouver police are investigating further into the rental property. The owner of the home lives outside the country.
This is the second grow-bust in the upscale British Properties in less than a week. On Monday, police obtained a search warrant for a home in the 600-block of Barnham Road and found a small grow operation. Two West Vancouver residents were arrested and are facing charges.
English said that the two grow-op busts in one week in a wealthy neighbourhood such as this do not come as a surprise to her.
"A lot of properties in the British Properties are very, very private. Three-storey-high hedges on acre properties, it is not uncommon for a lot of residents to not know their neighbours."
English said that coupled with the secluded homes, it's easy for grow-ops to spring up because many of the large homes are rented and the owners fail to monitor their property.
