A string of marijuana raids in Santa Cruz County this week uncovered pot growers stealing water and electricity from property owners, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team reported.

Sheriff’s NET detectives have noticed a recent increase in the theft of power and water for the illegal cultivation of marijuana.

In the 500 block of Browns Valley Road and in the area of Carlton Road and Hecker Pass, investigators found water being stolen to nourish pot plants, the narcotics team reported. A search warrant executed in the 300 block of Caudill Road, an offshoot of Browns Valley Road, turned up a sophisticated electrical “bypass” used to steal electrical power from Pacific Gas and Electric since 2005, the sheriff’s office reported.

On Thursday, detectives from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team concluded an investigation into power theft and the illegal cultivation of marijuana in the 11000 block of Lake Blvd, Lompico. Craig MacFaden, 59, Lompico, was arrested for theft of power, illegal commercial cultivation of marijuana and destruction of evidence at his home, the sheriff’s office reported. MacFaden was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.

During the past month, the sheriff’s office NET investigators had received a complaint about power theft occurring at the home. The complaint alleged that the owner of the home had “bypassed” the electrical meter to obtain un-metered power after PG&E had disconnected the power due to lack of payment.

At 3:25 p.m. Thursday, sheriff’s office detectives went to the residence and smelled marijuana under cultivation, according to a sheriff’s press release.

Detectives made contact with the resident, MacFaden, who fled to the left side of the residence and began pulling on a cord leading up to the power “weather head” on the roof of the home, the sheriff’s office reported. MacFaden was successful at removing a “bypass wire” and threw the wire into the bushes on the side of his house, the press release stated. MacFaden was arrested. He was growing in excess of 400 indoor and outdoor marijuana plants at his residence, the sheriff’s office reported. PG&E estimated that MacFaden had stolen in excess of $2,000 worth of power by using the “bypass.”

A “bypass” occurs when a person taps into the power-supply line prior to the power entering the meter box, where the meter records how much power is consumed. MacFaden had fastened the “bypass” onto the hot supply wires where they entered the weather head (which is placed on the roof). PG&E officials said that MacFaden could have died or severely electrocuted himself had he touched the energized supply wire while removing the “bypass.”

While on scene, detectives found and eradicated in excess of 250 indoor and outdoor marijuana plants under cultivation at the neighboring residence, the sheriff’s office reported. It is suspected that the occupants of that residence were manipulating the power meter in order to steal power from PG&E as well, investigators said.

Other recent investigations revealed similar activities, according to the sheriff’s office, including:

• On Thursday, sheriff’s office NET detectives along with members of the Santa Cruz County Narcotics Enforcement Team served a search warrant in the 300 block of Caudill Road, Watsonville. A sophisticated electrical “bypass” was located at the home, and it was suspected that the occupants had been stealing electrical power from PGE since 2005 for an estimated amount of $30,000.

More than 322 indoor/outdoor marijuana plants were seized from the home. The occupant of the residence admitted to growing the marijuana for commercial resale, investigators said. A warrant has been requested for the arrest of the resident, whose name was not released.

• On Wednesday, sheriff’s office NET detectives went to a ranch in the area of Carlton Road and Hecker Pass. An unknown person had tapped into a cattle watering trough on the property. A water line was run down a hillside to an illegal marijuana garden containing 284 outdoor marijuana plants. The marijuana grower was depleting the cattle’s water supply to supply water to the marijuana plants, investigators said. The investigation is continuing.

• On Wednesday, sheriff’s office NET detectives went to an area in the 500 block of Browns Valley Road to investigate a water theft complaint. Detectives were shown a large hole that had been dug by a marijuana cultivator. The suspect had dug down into the ground and located a supply line to a local residential well. The suspect tapped into the line and installed a water line for watering the small marijuana site. A nearby homeowner discovered the water theft after receiving an excessive water bill. The pipe had to be dug up and repaired to prevent further depletion of water. Approximately eight outdoor marijuana plants were eradicated from a makeshift outdoor garden. The investigation is continuing.

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(Published in 7/19/08 edition)

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