A LARGE cannabis farm was recovered at a property,  with 200 plants found inside.

On Tuesday, September 17, just after 1pm, officers discovered around 200 cannabis plants growing in five rooms and a drying room of a house on Marshalls Cross Road, plus growing equipment.

The electricity meter had been abstracted without authority. Scottish Power have attended and made the electrics safe.

The premises has been made safe by the police’s Cannabis Dismantling Team and enquiries are ongoing.

An investigation is taking place

Detective Inspector James Rotheram said: “Cannabis farms in neighbourhoods such as this pose a real risk to nearby residents who not only have to put up with the anti-social behaviour associated with this criminality, but also the risk of a fire being ignited from illegally extracting electricity when they tinker with the wiring and overload plugs.

“This shows the occupant has a total disregard of the safety of residents living close by and putting them at risk.

“It also highlights the importance that we find cannabis farms as quickly as possible.

”Nobody wants to live close to a potential death-traps such as this, and it is often thanks to people living in the areas affected who tell us about their suspicions, and the proactivity of our officers, that we are able to take action.

Forensics teams are at the house

“If you spot any signs that cannabis is being grown near where you live and work please let us know so that we can continue to take action. Any information helps residents and the work we do, so make us aware and we will investigate.”

Some of the signs that cannabis is being grown are:

- Strange smells and sounds

- Frequent and varied visitors to a property, often at unusual times

- Gardening equipment being taken into a property, such as plant pots, fertiliser, fans and industrial lighting

- Windows are sealed and covered or the curtains are permanently closed

- Heat from an adjoining property

- Birds gathering on a roof in cold weather Individually these activities may seem commonplace, however, together may indicate something more suspicious.

Anyone with information on suspected drug production or criminal activity in their community can contact @MerPolCC, call 101 or come forward anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.