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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to suspect next door is a cannabis farm?

32 replies

WeirdArchitecture · 23/04/2021 21:37

On behalf of friends, they have had an empty property next door since last June. Someone bought it but nobody ever moved in.
Various men in different vehicles arrive and leave for months but no new neighbour yet. Lots of different nationalities going in but not staying.

In past few weeks boxes are delivered, sealed with tape and about the size of a microwave (all of em). Since then one curtain per week goes up at each room, a haphazard sheet or some old drapes.

Then tonight my friends noticed all curtains shut and this freaky fluorescent light all through the house. Super duper bright.

Surely drug people would be more discrete?
There's nobody in there at all, no furniture, etc.
There is a box on wall outside with possible a key in it.

What do you think?

OP posts:
AppleKatie · 23/04/2021 21:39

Sounds like one yeh.

GoWalkabout · 23/04/2021 21:43

Yes

funnylittlefloozie · 23/04/2021 21:43

Yes, very possibly. This is what the "report a crime" function is for, on your local police website. Bung them a quick email and let them know. If you're wrong, no harm done, but if you're right, you've done the whole community a favour.

Original poster
WeirdArchitecture · 23/04/2021 21:53

thanks.

that's what we thought, but they don't want to overreact. For all we know many people use kebab shop UFO style lighting in their homes:)

I had never heard of it until we checked the list of things to look out for and it ticks every box except the smell. No smell yet!

OP posts:
Planningobjection · 23/04/2021 21:58

Yes it is.

Crankley · 23/04/2021 22:03

They would do well to report to the police. These growers use a massive amount of electricity, bypassing the metre in the house and it's possible that they could steal your friends' electricity.

AuntyHope · 23/04/2021 22:06

I had one near me once they did something to the electricity. I got billed should £5k

AuntyHope · 23/04/2021 22:06

About £5k not should

speakout · 23/04/2021 22:06

I would be concerned about a possible fire risk.
Especially if the property is adjacent to you.
Lights used in these schemes take huge amounts of power, sockets often overloaded in domestic properties, a risk of overheating, water shorting out cables etc.
I would report.

EastWestWhosBest · 23/04/2021 22:07

Yup. Go to the local police website and report it.

Roszie · 23/04/2021 22:08

Probably.

I0NA · 23/04/2021 22:10

What @speakout, it’s a big fire risk. That’s how many of them are discovered, when they set the whole block on fire.

Original poster
WeirdArchitecture · 23/04/2021 22:11

yes the fire risk alarms me I will encourage them to report.

OP posts:
Original poster
WeirdArchitecture · 23/04/2021 22:13

its seems too obvious though, curtains are not taped down but still fully shut.
why would these drug farmers allow the light to be so visible through hallway and edges of curtains?

OP posts:
Chocolatefordinner · 23/04/2021 22:16

This happened to us around this time of year a few years ago. The smell will come when the crop is due to harvest. Maybe end of this month, next month. It will REEK.

Tell you friend to feel along the walls for any warmth. Our pets kept cuddling the wall as it was a cosy spot. They may also get damp.

Another thing to watch out for is the noise of a buzzing fan, turn all noise off in the house and listen late at night.

Tell the police, they can send a helicopter over to sense the heat - doesn’t always work as some growers do something to the roof to stop the heat being picked up but worth a try.
The police can also check energy consumption in the local area I think.

It may not be much of an issue but ig it damages your friends property it will be, the smell is also awful.

speakout · 23/04/2021 22:18

drug farmers allow the light to be so visible through hallway and edges of curtains?

Because they are thick.

"drug farmers" range from someone keeping two plants in an attic to acres of industrial buildings in remote areas.
Kit can be bought easily and cheaply on ebay- many people think it may be be easy way to make a fast buck, without thinking though all the practicalities. They either succeed, fail, make some money or the venture goes up in smoke.
Like any business.

RosieLancs · 23/04/2021 23:05

That happened with my neighbours house a few years back, the place had been being renovated for a while so it took me some time to cotton on - my suspicions were confirmed when it snowed and as I turned round on the way to take the kids to school I saw there was thick snow on all the roof tops except for that one.

I was aware of all the risks associated with it but they were the quietest neighbours we'd ever had so I didn't say anything, after 3 years of neighbours who screamed at each other constantly and let their dogs bark in the garden at all hours it was a nice change 😃
A few weeks later I got a knock on the door from the police and it turned out someone else had reported it and when they went to investigate the house had been emptied of drugs but they'd found 'a significant amount of blood' in one of the bedrooms.

Cheeserton · 23/04/2021 23:11

The Police won't 'send a helicopter' but they'll definitely check it out. And very likely discover a cannabis farm.

Tealvelvet · 23/04/2021 23:15

Yes sounds exactly like the vacant house sold near us all the happenings exactly as you describe and yes it was a cannabis farm

Original poster
WeirdArchitecture · 23/04/2021 23:16

@RosieLancs

That happened with my neighbours house a few years back, the place had been being renovated for a while so it took me some time to cotton on - my suspicions were confirmed when it snowed and as I turned round on the way to take the kids to school I saw there was thick snow on all the roof tops except for that one.

I was aware of all the risks associated with it but they were the quietest neighbours we'd ever had so I didn't say anything, after 3 years of neighbours who screamed at each other constantly and let their dogs bark in the garden at all hours it was a nice change 😃
A few weeks later I got a knock on the door from the police and it turned out someone else had reported it and when they went to investigate the house had been emptied of drugs but they'd found 'a significant amount of blood' in one of the bedrooms.

christ that sounds awful - the blood!

Nobody has done this house up, just coming and going, different men, for about 4 months, then boxes arrive, then curtains and bright lights.

I think there was occasional banging and drilling but nothing like regular DIY.

OP posts:
Miasicarisatia · 23/04/2021 23:16

Trying to make a quick profit before it's legalised over here maybe?

Badabingbadabum · 23/04/2021 23:19

Yep. They grow it, harvest it then move. One one day everywhere around suddenly reeks of weed.

Chocolatefordinner · 26/04/2021 13:31

@Cheeserton

The Police won't 'send a helicopter' but they'll definitely check it out. And very likely discover a cannabis farm.
@Cheeserton they did for our next door neighbour and specifically told us it doesn’t always work due to special equipment designed to block out the heat.
TheQueef · 26/04/2021 13:34

Not impossible but surprising.
The biggest risk to a grow is other dealers taking a fancy to it, you'd expect a bit of discretion.

Kerzehmet · 26/04/2021 13:39

There is also the risk that there is someone inside - a victim of human trafficking - they are often brought to houses like this, left there with strict instructions not to leave and just have to take care of the plants in this hot stinking house, no one to talk to, nothing else to do. Then when the police do arrive with a warrant this poor soul ends up getting arrested and deported. The traffickers just move on to the next house.