Cannabis factory raid in suburbia
A large cannabis factory has been discovered in a house on a quiet suburban street, after neighbours tipped off police.
Officers found up to 500 cannabis plants in the five-bedroom, detached house in Stelle Way, Glenfield.
Police estimated the plants could have been worth £500,000 to the growers.
Officers raided the property yesterday morning after neighbours raised concerns.
They had said they were worried about what was going on in the house – which is understood to be rented – after months of curtains and blinds being permanently drawn.
Yesterday, police removed bags of cannabis plants and piled up in the garden electric lights and reflective metal sheets – used to direct light from high-powered bulbs on to the plants – before removing them.
The house was empty when officers arrived at 7.30am and no-one has been arrested.
Sgt Lee Westerby said: "We received information from residents and have followed that up to find this cannabis factory.
"It was quite big. We have found about 400 to 500 plants.
"They had taken over most of the house.
"As well as removing the plants today, we have been taking out lamps and other paraphernalia. It will take us quite a few hours. Our inquiries are continuing."
The Association of Chief Police Officers said that a cannabis plant could yield about £1,000 profit if harvested several times in a year.
Engineers from electrical company Eon were also on hand yesterday to make sure the electricity supply to the house was safe.
The high-powered lights which are used in cannabis factories are a fire risk.
It is understood a family moved out of the house at about Christmas and the property has been rented since.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "This is a very tight community, very close-knit.
"We had concerns about that house. A family moved out at Christmas. The house then looked very different. There were blinds up all the time.
"It is a shock to see how much they have found in there. This a quiet street with lots of families. You would not expect this."
Another neighbour said: "I'm relieved that it has been found out. The police have been excellent.
"We all suspected something. The house has been completely sealed up, with both blinds and curtains at the windows. Nobody was coming or going. The garden was overgrown. The house really stood out in this neighbourhood."
The raid came as figures were released to show the number of cannabis factories being discovered by police is soaring. In the 12 months to April, a total of 9,779 plants were seized in Leicestershire, with a potential street value of up to £10m. The number of plants being confiscated and destroyed had risen sharply – from about 1,700, in 2006.
Police said they had been able to detect a larger number of cannabis factories because more members of the public had tipped them off.
Superintendent Steve Boulton said: "A significant number of cannabis factories have been shut over the past year, which has disrupted the sale of drugs on our streets."
9 Comments
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by K, Leicester
Friday, July 03 2009, 2:12PM
“I am not the same K Leicester who commented earlier, but as this story proves you just never know what goes on behind closed doors.
An ex girfriend of mine from a few years ago (we dont see each other at all now) had MS, she used to smoke the odd cannabis joint to help ease her pain.”
by Jatin, Belgrave, Leicester
Friday, July 03 2009, 1:18PM
“The problem is that such equipment and such seeds are not illegal hence they are readily available for anyone to buy should they feel the need to start growing cannabis.”
by Tony (ex pat), Lakeland. Florida. USA
Friday, July 03 2009, 11:46AM
“Have two friends (brothers) back in Leicester, who gave their mother-in-law (a keen gardener) a wacky baccy plant.
It started growing like mad & she asked a neighbour (retired policeman) if he knew what kind of tree it was. The plant was swiftly removed.
K (Leicester) better get those curtains opened sharpish!”
by John, Glenfield
Friday, July 03 2009, 11:15AM
“Barry its partially because electricity companies are incompetent and the "customer service" staff are useless - ours has had the night/day readings the wrong way around for 2 years now. We've told them this several times but they insist that they're doing it right. Now we just save the difference and earn some interest on it - if they eventually ask for the money they'll get it but I'm not telling them again.
mr rutland - if the meter HAD been bypassed in this instance you can be ABSOLUTELY certain the police would have said so. They always do.”
by mr rutland, rutland
Friday, July 03 2009, 11:08AM
“Barry, they bypass the meter (very easy to do but stupid)which in itself highly dangerous as it also removes the main short circuit fuse, which is the last protection also the wirng in the house often cannot cope with all the extra loading and overheats.
These houses create so much heat that it is possible to see them via a thermal image of the roof
I would guess that this is already being done as matter of course as the force chopper flies around”