Hockley Cannabis Raid

[PENGHEAD200SX]

5,000 Cannabis plants discovered in Hockley

• by Kat Baldwyn, Birmingham Mail
• Feb 8 2011

Cannabis Factory found in Hockley

LANDLORDS were today urged to make sure they know how their premises are being used after police discovered 5,000 cannabis plants growing in an industrial unit in Hockley.
Officers were called at around 10pm on Sunday night with reports of youths attempting to break into an industrial unit in Camden Street.
When they attended the scene they found thousands of cannabis plants being grown there as part of a large scale factory. Two men, a 40-year-old from Coventry and a 39-year-old from Worcester, have been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike O’Hara, crime manager, said: “The property also contains a cellar where some of the larger plants were found to be growing

5,000 Cannabis plants discovered in Hockley

• by Kat Baldwyn, Birmingham Mail
• Feb 8 2011

Cannabis Factory found in Hockley

“It is far too early to say if the discovery is connected to the owners as we are still in the very early stages of the investigation.
“The unit was used solely for growing cannabis, it was not being used for anything else. The electricity in the unit had been bypassed so officers are working to make the unit safe.
“Photographs of the scene will be taken and all of the plants are being bagged up and will be destroyed.
“Following this discovery I would urge landlords, particularly of industrial premises, to be aware of how their premises are being used. If anyone notices anything suspicious about a unit I would urge them to call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 Common signs which could indicate a building is being used to grow cannabis include:
* Windows that are permanently covered from the inside and bright lights left on around the clock.
* A large amount of condensation may appear on windows and there may be a lot of heat being generated within the property.
* There may be a sweet pungent smell coming from the property and sometimes a vent protruding from the roof tiles will be visible.
* People may visit the property daily or weekly but only for short periods