Is Your Neighbor's House an Indoor Pot Farm - a Pot House?

Would you know if the house across the street was turned into a pot-growing farm? Looks like some of the telltale signs are garbage cans are never set out. Vans pull into the garage and out again within a few hours. There is no contact with the neighbors. The next time a neighbor moves in next door, maybe you should find out more about them? But I don't know if I'd go so far as to eat their brownies.

At least 21 suburban homes in Sacramento County since August have been raided by the DEA. These properties, many of which are upscale Mediterraneans, were tended by people whom the DEA believe belong to an organized drug ring with ties to San Francisco's Chinatown.

Almost every room in the homes were converted into marijuana growing operations. The family room, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and laundry room were stuffed with marijuana plants and rigged with timers that managed sophisticated watering systems, fans and lights. Investigators say the growers bypassed electrical meters to thwart suspicion of their unusually high electrical consumption. The growers also blocked off the windows and hung reflective mylar sheets.

The police were tipped off by the neighbors and a gardener, but it sure took these tipsters a long time to notify the authorities. The homes were purchased in 2004 and 2005. Makes one wonder why neighbors weren't more observant.

Of course, being a Realtor, I immediately wondered who sold these homes. A quick check in Metrolist revealed that 75% were sold by a rookie Prudential agent from the Bay area. Kevin Parker might have some explaining to do. I figured sooner or later the media or the DEA would look into who represented the buyers. It took about five days before News 10 reported it.

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