The Times is partnering with our local police to give them a platform to share important messages with our readers around crime-prevention and community safety. Below is the latest column from Sergeant Brett Meale of Howick Police.
Earlier this month, Counties Manukau East Police executed more than a dozen search warrants on residential properties in the Howick, Meadowlands and Bucklands Beach areas.
They related to a large-scale cannabis growing operation run by a Vietnamese organised crime ring.
Over 950 plants were located along with 13kg of harvested plant material. Whilst this was a good result for police, unfortunately the landlords of the properties involved weren’t so lucky.
Each property had been privately rented, and then significantly modified into commercial cannabis growing operations, utilising almost every large room inside the house.
Electricity with an estimated value of almost $300,000 had been diverted and stolen, through unsafe and reckless electrical work.
Substantial damage had been caused to the interior of the property, through the modifications and use of hydroponic equipment.
No one was found to be living at many of the properties, and despite what was occurring inside, the grounds were well maintained so as not to attract the attention of neighbours.
To avoid having to deal with the aftermath of these activities, landlords or their managers should ensure any identification provided by prospective tenants can be verified.
At almost every house described above, the identification provided to take on the tenancy was a false document.
Likewise, property inspections should be carried out on a regular basis. Refer to: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/maintenance-and-inspections/inspections/ if you’re unsure as to the regulations around this.
With all these houses, no inspections had been carried out at all.
I’m aware these tenants had made all sorts of excuses as to why the landlords couldn’t have access, but at least in the initial stages of the tenancy, checks should be made on a regular basis regardless of the excuses.
For landlords and neighbours alike, some signs of a grow house to watch out for include the familiar smell of drugs, windows constantly covered, bright lighting at all hours, constant buzz of ventilation, occupants keeping odd hours, high use of electricity and diverted electrical wiring.
If you have any information that you wish to report, phone police on 105 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
