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Essex Police helicopter scanned roof for heat readings


A BOBBY on the beat sniffed out a cannabis factory in Southend.

PC Dan Morgan immediately recognised the smell from the flat in West Street, leading police to storm the building.

They rammed the door down to find 50 cannabis plants growing under industrial heat lamps in the loft and a bedroom.

No one was inside the property when they raided at 7.30am yesterday, and a team of seven officers carried the plants to a waiting police van.

Sgt Gary Lane, of Leigh neighbourhood policing team, said: “One of the local officers, just patrolling backwards and forwards, smelt cannabis at this address.

“The curtains were always drawn, there was no movement there, and he flagged it up as suspicious. I’m surprised we didn’t get more calls because you can smell cannabis as you walk past.”

The concerns of PC Morgan had been confirmed by the Essex Police helicopter which hovered over the property during one of its swoops over Southend. It picked out the heat from the roof, which appeared to back up the officer’s suspicions.

This had been caused by the huge amount of power used to grow the plants. A large thermometer found in the loft showed a reading of 40 degrees Celsius.

Comments(12)

geezer, innit says...
10:51am Mon 15 Mar 10

"I’m surprised we didn’t get more calls because you can smell cannabis as you walk past.”


My guess is that not everyone in the area actually knows what it smells like mate!

bob7 says...
11:57am Mon 15 Mar 10

geezer, innit wrote:
"I’m surprised we didn’t get more calls because you can smell cannabis as you walk past.” My guess is that not everyone in the area actually knows what it smells like mate!
My thought exactly. Don't make assumptions that everyone knows what drugs look or smell like or how to take them. Some of us can still enjoy life without using illegal substances.
Well done to PC Morgan.

mister strides says...
12:18pm Mon 15 Mar 10

send that copper round to the estate in Vange/Pitsea which encompasses Timberman's View etc., he'll get a good whiff in parts of that!

the_oracle says...
2:41pm Mon 15 Mar 10

A large thermometer found in the loft showed a reading of 40 degrees Celsius.......wherea
s a small one would have shown a different temperature?

thelonewhinger says...
4:05pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Most significant fact here: "a patrolling police officer" - now there's a rarity and just goes to show.....

Trainman says...
4:55pm Mon 15 Mar 10

WHAT does a Bobby look like these days?

Parsnip says...
5:03pm Mon 15 Mar 10

geezer, innit wrote:
"I’m surprised we didn’t get more calls because you can smell cannabis as you walk past.”


My guess is that not everyone in the area actually knows what it smells like mate!
Or people smelt it and didn't give a toss because it's not real crime!

Colleen G says...
5:36pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Parsnip wrote:
geezer, innit wrote: "I’m surprised we didn’t get more calls because you can smell cannabis as you walk past.” My guess is that not everyone in the area actually knows what it smells like mate!
Or people smelt it and didn't give a toss because it's not real crime!
It is a real crime, which leaves our kids with addled brains, trying to keep up with the older **** who already had addled brains giving a bad example.

They don't call it *dope* for nothing!! I have yet to meet a serious user who does not live up to the name!!

Parsnip says...
5:46pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Colleen G wrote:
Parsnip wrote:
geezer, innit wrote: "I’m surprised we didn’t get more calls because you can smell cannabis as you walk past.” My guess is that not everyone in the area actually knows what it smells like mate!
Or people smelt it and didn't give a toss because it's not real crime!
It is a real crime, which leaves our kids with addled brains, trying to keep up with the older **** who already had addled brains giving a bad example.

They don't call it *dope* for nothing!! I have yet to meet a serious user who does not live up to the name!!
What utter rubbish! You are obviously not speaking from experience.
Many many more brains are 'addled' & also much more trouble & damage is caused through the 'legal' drug - ALCOH9OL which is consumed by many more 'users'

Colleen G says...
6:45pm Mon 15 Mar 10

I agree, alcohol in the hands of a simple soul is at least as bad as dope, or any drug in the hands of a simple soul. That doesnt make any of them right, legal or otherwise.

I'd ban the lot. Dope, alcohol were always a social activity, these days it's antisocial.

SARFENDMAN says...
8:08pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Looks like bad news for the sniffer dogs. They've got serious competition.

BASILBRUSH says...
9:55pm Mon 15 Mar 10

It just goe's to show, you can't go wrong with more Bobbys on the street.


Drugs raid – officers carry plants out of flat to a police van Drugs raid – officers carry plants out of flat to a police van

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