Grow Ops and Drug Distribution – Ottawa

Posted on December 14, 2009 
Filed Under Ottawa Neighbourhoods, Ottawa Today / Interesting People, Places and Things, Valerie Zinger

All neighbourhoods in Ottawa can be locations for Grow Ops and drug distribution.  To maintain the value of your current home (for now and future sale) and to make your area safe, it is important to know some of the signs and to phone the authorities if you have concerns.  Closing your eyes to these problems will not make them go away – in fact, you are assisting the perpetrators.

What should you notice? 

For drug distribution - look for a number of cars arriving at the house, staying for short periods of time, and then leaving.  Maybe there is a lot of foot traffic going in and out of the house.  Look for people who park a block away and walk to the house.  Everyone has visitors but is there an unusually high number and people who do not look like they are just dropping in for coffee.  Is the house being left to fall apart while other business is being transacted?  Listen to your intuition.  Is something just not right?  Call the police to voice your concerns.  In a case near me, the police indicated that they had no records of people calling so they were not actively watching the house.  Call.

For a Grow Op – (see Ottawa Police site ) because the humidity is going to be high (and destroy the house in the process), it is unlikely anyone is living in the house.  There will be ‘visitors’ to tend to the crop and they may be arriving and leaving at odd times.  In a Grow Op situation it is more what is not happening versus what you can see.  The drapes or window treatments will be closed tightly.  There is likely to be condensation on the windows (from the heat and humidity).  Windows will never be opened.  Lights and music/TV will be left on 24/7 to give the feeling of someone being home.  There may be a fan running to vent the inside of the house.  Remember, a Grow Op does not have to be in a detached home.  It may be in an apartment block, duplex, row or semi-detached.  Your best move is to contact the city police. 

The City of Kansas has a wonderful brochure and reporting sheet available for use. 

If you have information about a marijuana grow house, the Ottawa police would like you to contact them:

Photo credit:  Neighborhood Watch @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/40819389@N04/3757326409/

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