Another farm!
Another cannabis factory has been discovered in the area following
some anonymous information that was passed to us. The premises
at Brookside Cottages in Eaton is a smaller setup to the other
ones discovered earlier this month [see below] but again a substantial
amount of cannabis plants have now been destroyed. A local man
was arrested yesterday evening [23 September] in Macclesfield in
relation to the same incident. All of the necessary enquiries are
now being undertaken.
Cannabis Farm at Nether Alderley
Police are asking people to be vigilant following the discovery
of another big cannabis factory in East Cheshire. Police officers
who raided a large house in Nether Alderley on Friday 4th September
2009 discovered more than a thousand plants in various stages
of growth. A specialist firm have removed the plants and will
dispose of them.
Detective Sergeant Andy Preece, from Knutsford
Neighbourhood Policing Unit said, “Every room in the house was
adapted for growing the plants, with heaters and hydroponics systems.
Power cables were hanging everywhere.
External and internal walls had been lined to retain heat. It
was extremely dangerous; a typical example of a cannabis factory. "We
set up the operation to search the premises because there was
local concern about the suspicious nature of movement to and
from the house and about the way windows had been screened off."
"These production plants are a lucrative money-earner for organised
criminal gangs operating internationally. People need to be
aware that they exist and we would ask anyone who thinks a house
or commercial property in their neighbourhood is being used for
this purpose to get in touch with us."
"We would also warn landlords to make sure you know who you
are letting property to and what they are using that property
for. The work criminals carry out to convert the buildings
for cannabis cultivation often involves knocking big holes
in the structure for heating ducts and ventilators. It creates
an enormous amount of mess and makes the property a high
fire risk.
Being careless about your tenants could cost you a lot of
money."
A fifty year old Vietnamese woman was arrested and charged with
producing cannabis and abstracting electricity dishonestly at the
Nether Alderley property and appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates
Court.
Anyone who believes premises in their neighbourhood may be
used for cultivating cannabis should call the Cheshire
Police Information line, 0845 458 0000.
And another ...
Officers from Cheshire Police have uncovered a cannabis farm at
a
property on Mereside Road in Mere, near Knutsford.
The discovery came Monday 14th September, at approximately 4.30pm,
following a tip-off from a local resident. Officers attended the address
and arrested two Vietnamese men, aged 20 and 29, for cultivation of
cannabis and on suspicion of being illegal immigrants. Two local people,
a man aged 41 and a woman aged 48, have also been arrested on suspicion
of being concerned in the production of class B drugs.
Inspector Kate Woods from the Knutsford Neighbourhood Policing
Unit
said "At the moment we believe the number of cannabis plants being
farmed at
the property to be in excess of 1,000. Officers are currently
investigating the circumstances behind the cultivation of these plants
and how the individuals concerned came to be at the property. We would
like to thank local residents for their vigilance and support during
this investigation."
Anyone who has suspicions that a property in their area
is being used
for the cultivation of cannabis is asked to contact Cheshire Police
Information line, 0845 458 0000.
And a note from Inspector Gareth Woods ...
We have carried out a search warrant at an address on Salters
Lane in Siddington this morning [16/9/2009] as a result of
some information recently passed to us. I can confirm that the
address in question is being used as a cannabis factory and we
are now in the process of closing it down and having the cannabis
plants and associated equipment destroyed. This is likely to
take us the majority of today to do and comes on the back of
two cannabis factories being discovered and subsequently closed
down in the Knutsford area this week.
If anyone has any information or concerns about illegal drug activity
please let us know via the contact details below. Alternatively
feel free to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Regards
Insp Gareth Woods
Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Team
macclesfield.npt@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
0845 458 6371
Increasing problem
In the last few years, the UK has seen an increase in the number
of cannabis farms being found throughout homes in all areas of
the country including both residential and rural areas. These premises
are usually rented properties.
In Cheshire cannabis farms have been discovered in large towns
such as Warrington, Macclesfield and Northwich but also in rural
areas like Tarvin indicating that the problem is not confined to
the major towns.
You may not realise it but cannabis farms themselves do pose a
serious threat to your health. They require the storage of large
quantities of fertilizers and pesticides and are often connected
illegally to the electricity supply, posing huge fire risks.
Outlined below are the signs you can look for that suggest a house
in your neighbourhood could be being used as a cannabis farm.
- A pungent and sweet smell on the street with no obvious
source.
- Unusual levels of heat coming from a property . No frost
or snow on the property in the winter months even though every
house around it does.
- Unusual noises, at odd times, such as fans going constantly
or large items like sacks or drums being dragged about.
- Windows that are blacked out by heavy curtains or bin bags
from the inside.
- Occupants who are rarely seen.
- The property seems unlived in or the residents are active
at odd times of the day.
- Bulky items being taken into the property such as barrels,
gardening equipment and electrical wiring.
- The creation of new air vents or the use of industrial air
vents in a domestic property.
IF YOU ARE A LANDLORD
If your property is being used as a farm you may find that no
one answers the door when you visit and that the locks have been
changed without you knowing.
Cash may be used in transactions rather than setting up direct
debits.
Areas with a mixture of residential and light industrial buildings
are commonly used but farms have also been found in rural areas.
Most commonly a rented property of a good size with several rooms
with an absentee landlord is chosen . Be aware of people who ask
when renting one of your homes how often you will be visiting your
property. Be suspicious if only offered cash and make regular checks
once the property has been leased.
If a cannabis farm is found at one of your properties you can
expect to find large scale electrical problems, entire rooms filled
with compost, damp conditions and fire damage. The costs to make
the premises habitable again are considerable.
If you suspect a property is being used as a cannabis farm then
call Cheshire Police on 0845 458 0000.
If you think people in your neighbourhood are stealing electricity,
British Gas has an electricity fraud hotline number 0800 587 2737.
Please be aware and report anything suspicious.
JANE THIRSK
Watch Officer
Cheshire Police
Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 458 6371
Other Homewatch pages of current relevance: Briefs (recent
crimes in the Macclesfield Division including Bollington, Kerridge
and Pott Shrigley).
If you haven't looked at the homewatch pages before we recommend
looking at the homewatch home page.
