Nearly 300 Marijuana Plants Seized From Gilroy Home
GILROY (BCN) -- Police seized nearly 300 marijuana plants valued at more than $200,000 from a home in Gilroy on Monday where firefighters responded to an electrical fire.
Firefighters responded to a report of an extinguished electrical fire around 9:30 p.m. at a home in the 9100 block of Wren Avenue, police said.
After determining the fire had been extinguished, they found someone had spliced electrical meter wires near the home, police said.
As part of their investigation, they found that the fire had caused a neighborhood power outage.
Firefighters detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the home, but they could not locate any residents after knocking on the door, according to police.
Police officers responded and forced entry into the home. Inside, they found a clandestine marijuana cultivation operation with roughly 300 mature marijuana plants and related growing equipment, according to police.
Officers seized the plants and other evidence from the home
They determined the electrical fire had extended into the home and had self-extinguished.
Police believe that indoor marijuana operations are becoming a trend in Santa Clara County. They are urging residents to beware of such activity in their neighborhoods to prevent fire dangers and potential health hazards associated with the indoor cultivation of marijuana.
Police are continuing to investigate the case and ask anyone with information to contact Officer Juan Rocha at (408) 846-0350 or anonymously call We Tip at (800) 782-7463.
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