By: Andrew Hoover Eastvale – Several upscale communities like Walnut, Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, and Eastvale have been targets for “marijuana grow houses.” Just recently, the Sheriff Dept. has released a statement indicating that over 17 houses have been uncovered in a 20 mile radius since Jan 2013. A “Marijuana grow house” is typically a house located in a suburban area that is industrialized to grow and distribute Marijuana. This process includes bypassing the electrical meter by way of expensive and high grade electrical equipment or leading a wire to the power line before the meter. The houses must be maintained at a certain temperature as well to ensure the crops growth. Due to this, the houses can posses the ability to create an immediate fire hazard with all the electricity being generated through amateur wiring. However, fire hazards aren’t the only downside to grow houses. Most of the time, growers are involved in gang activity which brings the threat of violent crime into your neighborhood. Grow houses can also cause property values to drop which can put a strain on homeowners in the area. According to the DEA and FBI, marijuana is a multi-billion dollar industry which includes profits made from the “legal” dispensaries across the states that have legalized it for medical purposes. Grow house owner’s supply to every market as well as including the medical marijuana dispensaries and the current black market, making marijuana an incredibly lucrative crop and one of the most easily accessible drugs. Eastvale has been home to multiple grow house incidents. The most notable were the raids that happened in March, which led to the uncovering of a large marijuana grow operation that spanned from multiple cities including Eastvale, Walnut, and Diamond Bar. In April, four more grow houses were spotted in Eastvale. The first was on April 10 at 1:45 P.M. on the 6300 block of La Mesa St., where deputies seized over 600 marijuana plants, one pound of processed marijuana, digital scales and packaging material. The next grow house was raided on April 16 at 11 pm on the 6900 Block of Rapids Dr. Deputies seized over 1100 marijuana plants, one pound of processed marijuana, digital scales and packaging material. The last and most recent houses were discovered on April 24. The houses were located on the 6400 block of Harrow St. and 13000 block of Running Deer Cir. The first warrant was served at around 4 pm on Harrow Street, where deputies seized over 850 marijuana plants, a half-pound of processed marijuana, digital scales and packaging material. Additionally, electricity was being bypassed around the meter, causing a serious fire hazard and resulting in approximately $3000 a month in stolen electricity. The second warrant was served on Running Deer Circle at around 6 pm when deputies seized over 600 marijuana plants, digital scales and packaging material and estimated that around $4,000 worth of electricity had been bypassed around the meter. Eastvale police and the Riverside Sheriff Dept. has recently released a statement giving tips on how to spot a grow house, Some of these tips include looking out for windows that are covered from the interior, lights and televisions on timers, subjects moving in commercial grade electrical equipment during the late night or early morning hours, no signs of normal residential occupation, and the smell of marijuana emitting from the home. It’s also advised to never approach someone who you may think is operating a grow house for your own safety, as owners are usually criminals involved in some form of gang activity and do not want anybody interfering with their operation. If you or someone you know suspects a home of being a grow house, you are strongly advised to call calling Deputy Javier Morando at the Jurupa Valley Station at (951) 955-2600 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s dispatch center at (951)776-1099.
