Cannabis operation found in burglary victim's home

File photo / NZ Herald

A burglary victim had a double dose of bad luck when police sent to investigate uncovered his indoor cannabis growing operation.

Senior Sergeant Freda Grace of Hamilton police said things started going wrong for the man after some outstanding work by his neighbour.

The neighbour heard glass breaking next door and went to investigate. He confronted a man who ran through the house and out the front door, and chased him while relaying his description to police by phone.

Although the suspect got away, the description was so accurate officers found him a short time later.

"But it wasn't the end of it," said Ms Grace.

"As you would expect officers returned to the property to assess the damage and look for any evidence when they noticed a smell coming from a smashed window."

Looking through the window, they noticed an indoor cannabis operation.

"There was a bit of a pause on the end of the line when an officer rang the victim to inform him his home had been broken into.

"The officer mentioned one of his windows had been broken and when he asked which one the officer said: 'the one where the cannabis is growing'."

One man has been charged with burglary and another with cultivating cannabis.

Ms Grace said although the situation had a humorous element there was nothing funny about how illegal drugs helped drive dishonesty offending.