With most CCHs operating in suburban areas, this makes it extremely difficult to detect the difference between a normal home and one growing cannabis.
You could be living in a neighbourhood with a CCH nearby, without knowing or ever catching a smell of it!
There are many ways to indicate if a CCH is operating in your area. Here’s some important clues to help you identify suspicious CCH activity:
Most CCH syndicate operations will buy or rent houses and place metal shutters over all windows of the premises. Curtains are usually drawn and covered entirely from inside with dark thick plastic or large boards.
This helps eliminate light being emitted from grow rooms operating with high wattage globes.
CCHs are usually unoccupied full-time. Crops are tended to every second or third day in the early stages of growth and possibly daily when it’s time to harvest.
Maintenance on a CCH property is minimal; front lawns are rarely cut, and rear yards remain untouched.
Garden beds are generally full of weeds and letter boxes may overflow with pamphlets and newspapers.
Crops are generally tended to between 1 to 2 hours at a time. This includes checking water levels, changing globes, adding nutrients, trimming plants and general maintenance of water pumps and pest control.
Rubbish bins are taken out each week to create the impression the house is occupied. However, an inspection of those bins may reveal minimal rubbish with the exception of junk mail.
The property may have a room at the front of the premises to house a lamp or small light. This would also operate on a timer to create the impression the house is occupied at night.
KNOW THE SIGNS:
HOWTO DETECTA CANNABIS CROP HOUSE (CCH)?
Hydroponically grown cannabis require a 24 hour ‘cycle’ at different stages of growth i.e. 12 hours on and 12 hours off or 18 hours on and 6 hours off. Neighbours of CCHs should notice a surge in power when a CCH cycle ‘kicks in’.
When the high wattage globes and related equipment kick-start the cycle, nearby neighbours should notice a quick surge in power. This is the
CCH drawing the street’s electricity supply of 240 volts back to 225 volts; creating an electricity drain on surrounding houses.
This can cause lights to flicker and possible damage to household appliances. Up to 15-20 houses can be affected as a result of CCHs draining electricity supply in the area.
CCHs use charcoal filters to conceal the smell of cannabis. By
purifying the air with charcoal filters, smell is eliminated via exhaust fans. It’s difficult for neighbours or people passing by to detect a CCH by smell.
Surveillance cameras are placed outside CCHs to deter suspicious activity or public detection. These cameras may or may not be operating. It is common for CCHs to activate live cameras inside the main area of the property with a direct live stream to a mobile phone. The owner is then notified when police enter the CCH property and therefore, will not attend the premises again.
Knowthe signs and stop drug growing in your community