The Antelope Valley Times

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Lancaster Sheriff’s Station offers tips to keep your neighborhood safe from illegal grow houses

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LANCASTER – Continuing the message from a community forum this past weekend on illegal cannabis in the Antelope Valley,  the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on Tuesday issued tips for local residents to keep their neighborhoods safe from illegal grow houses.

“Dealing with illegal grow houses is frustrating, lowers property value, brings a criminal aspect to our community and could be dangerous,” officials said in a news release, which listed the top red flags to look out for to identify potential grow houses.

Red flags for potential grow houses

  • Immediate indoor construction following the purchase of a residence.
  • Construction occurring during darkness hours and on weekends.
  • Construction primarily inside detached buildings and garages.
  • No move in of household belongings, appliances, furniture, etc.
  • Middle aged men being the only persons visiting the residence.
  • Luxury vehicles randomly arriving at the residence.
  • Unusual patterns of human activity (persons seldom there, then an influx of traffic).
  • Unusual lighting, such as interior lights constantly on, or increased security lighting.
  • Large diesel generators on the property.
  • Additions to detached buildings and garages.
  • Installation of air conditioning units.
  • Air conditioning units operating in cold weather.
  • Installation of solar panels.
  • Installation of solid perimeter fencing, or security fencing.
  • Installation of multiple surveillance cameras.
  • Overall lack of care and maintenance for landscaping.
  • The odor of marijuana emitting from buildings on the property.
  • Exterior windows being covered from inside the residence.
  • Large aggressive dogs roaming the property.
  • Ventilation ducting installed in odd locations on the residence.
  • Alterations to electrical panels.

“If your neighbor moves in and starts a remodel, it does not mean they are converting the home into an illegal grow house,” the news release states. “But we all know our neighbors and neighborhoods and a combination of some of the points listed above may be worth reporting.”

Residents can assist local law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity to marijuanatips@lasd.org or contacting the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station at 661-948-8466. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Previous related story: Barger, sheriff detail illegal cannabis fight

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14 comments for "Lancaster Sheriff’s Station offers tips to keep your neighborhood safe from illegal grow houses"

  1. Uh, oh. I just read the list of “Red Flags” of growth houses.

    I have a solar panel on my RV. What must that mean?

  2. I’m so very Thankful for our
    Fresno’ District Attorney, “Lisa Smittcamp”
    She’s Absolutely the Best District Attorney ever,
    I don’t know how she does it when she has to
    deal with all these people like Gavin Newsom for
    one !! Many others are just unreal & completely
    Ruining California!!
    Lisa Smittcamp, thank you for doing a job always
    well done . You would make a Great POTUS

  3. This is ridiculous. Why don’t you focus on real crime like human trafficking. How to keep safe from things that are actually life threatening, happening in the av, and need to be brought to peoples attention.

    • Are you currently afraid you will be human trafficked? That’s mire likely that an illegal grow house to you? Ok

      • You obviously failed to get the point. Human trafficking is dangerous to SOMEONE. Illegal growing is clipping profits from the licensed growers (licensed by Wrecks and HEY, what a coincidence they are his political allies. Whether a human trafficking operation is more or less likely is not relevant in a threat assessment because they just aren’t a threat.

  4. Of all the things people need tips on being “kept safe” from, illegal pot growers who by definition are trying to keep as low a profile as possible have to be last on the list. This is REALLY about keeping the profits from Wrecks ragweed operation safe for him and his cronies.

    • Ain’t that the truth Tim. It is all about protecting Wrecks and his partners. Just like so many other projects in this forsaken town. The good old boys win. The people lose. Every time.

    • Doesn’t LEAPS take care of finding all the grow places?

      What’s the big deal. Rent it out to the county is necessary and it works so well.

  5. Maybe some people should visit a grow house and take a giant inhale. I was born and raised in Lancaster. Grew up on Stanridge off Glenraven. I no longer feel safe going out, even during the day because of all the shootings going on. There is so much crime here now, and it saddens me deeply. So I say, inhale some legal ganja, and repeat, until the law manages all this craziness!

  6. HOW ABOUT SOME TIPS FOR SPOTTING WHEN THE STATE HAS MOVED IN A VIOLENT REPEAT CHILD RAPIST..?

    OR CARTEL GANG MEMBERS..?

    HOW ABOUT SOME SHERIFF’S TIPS ON WHAT AREAS IN LANCASTER ARE HIGH CRIME NO-GO AREAS..?

    LIKE OVER NEAR THE HIGH SCHOOL…

    AND SPEAKING ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CRIME CENTERS HOW ABOUT CLOSING DOWN LANCASTER’S SNOOKIES GENTLEMANS CLUB..?

    • If you close down Snookis there won’t be any gentleman’s clubs in the area you sound like you a book burner too huh? Hope you are not someone saying America is about freedom, because you apparently don’t want freedom.