Police urge keen eyes as dope season looms

BUMPER HAUL: Northland police destroyed 67,191 cannabis plants during this year's drug recovery operation. PHOTO/KRISTIN EDGE

Summer in Northland means longer days, warmer temperatures and time to plant out the cannabis plot.

So Northland police are warning people to keep their properties and equipment safe from thieves who may be carrying out illegal gardening activities.

Far North Area Commander Inspector Wendy Robilliard said the cannabis growing season would soon be in full swing across the region and criminals involved in growing the drugs often targeted quad bikes, chain saws, lawn mowers, tools and petrol cans.

They had also stolen outboard motors and boating equipment including rods and reels, petrol cans and fishing gear from boats when they were parked on properties and even when they were moored at sea.

"Make sure you lock your sheds and garages," Ms Robilliard said. "Last summer there were a number of burglaries in rural areas where items were stolen from unlocked sheds and garages and boats.

"Another problem is people leaving their cars unlocked on driveways, sometimes with valuables in view.

Thieves will canvas every property until they see an opportunity. They are also very quick, so don't make it easy for them."

As well as locking houses, sheds, garages, and cars, Ms Robilliard suggested people think about installing alarms and CCTV and having dogs.

Northland Detective Sergeant John Miller, who runs the annual blitz on cannabis, said as growers made moves to establish crops in the bush, police started getting information.

"We are getting information about suspicious movements," Mr Miller said. "People are getting located in the bush claiming to be hunting but they have no gun or dog and are carrying a backpack."

As people realised they could leave information anonymously on the Crimestoppers line - 0800 555 111 - it meant more people were dobbing in dope growers. Mr Miller said attention should be given to houses that could be home to indoor growing operations where growers were cloning plants, growing them to a certain size and then selling them to outdoor operators.

"It's a massive market - about 80 per cent of cannabis grown outdoors starts indoors," he said.

The annual drug recovery operation earlier this year netted the second highest number of cannabis plants destroyed by Northland police. Officers ripped out or sprayed a whopping 67,191 plants - up on last year's total of 46,224 plants.