POlice attentions?
- Thread starter firsttimegroww
- Start date
K1Ng5p4d3
Junior Creatologist
I just thought of something in reguards to people monitoring electricity use. Lets say you have a regular grow goin on - non perpetual. You just set up a grow, harvest, and set up another grow. If somebody really wanted to, they would be able to see that every 3 months your light bill jumps up by 100 bucks, and then goes back down to what it would normally be, with you running your lights 12/12. If they saw this happening for a while, wouldnt the pattern be sort of noticeable? i mean, that would be a pretty obvious pattern for electricity use right?
N is it true that the cops cant get a warrant by monitoring your electricity useage, even if they were to notice a pattern as consistent as that would be??
- just throwing that out there. If someone WERE payin attention to it, that would be the easiest way for somebody to at least get a hunch that you have a constant cycle that happens once every 3 months or so for some reason.
Now, with a perpetual grow, you wouldnt have to worry about that so much, because youll always have lights on 24/7 from the getgo, so it would be impossible for someone to notice some type of pattern happening, unless its a rediculous amount of useage -- thats an accurate statement, right?? This is actually somethin i was wondering about myself, because im starting a new grow in my new house, and i wanna go perpetual - ive even already bought a 250 setup, a 400, and ive ordered a 1000w setup too, just to have everything ready for the move so i can get down n dirty as soon as my bags drop on the floor of my new home, lol.
-Sorry for jackin the thread with that last graph dude. The whole electricity deal has been on my mind lately n this thread just made me think of it again, lol. pay no nevermind
N is it true that the cops cant get a warrant by monitoring your electricity useage, even if they were to notice a pattern as consistent as that would be??
- just throwing that out there. If someone WERE payin attention to it, that would be the easiest way for somebody to at least get a hunch that you have a constant cycle that happens once every 3 months or so for some reason.
Now, with a perpetual grow, you wouldnt have to worry about that so much, because youll always have lights on 24/7 from the getgo, so it would be impossible for someone to notice some type of pattern happening, unless its a rediculous amount of useage -- thats an accurate statement, right?? This is actually somethin i was wondering about myself, because im starting a new grow in my new house, and i wanna go perpetual - ive even already bought a 250 setup, a 400, and ive ordered a 1000w setup too, just to have everything ready for the move so i can get down n dirty as soon as my bags drop on the floor of my new home, lol.
-Sorry for jackin the thread with that last graph dude. The whole electricity deal has been on my mind lately n this thread just made me think of it again, lol. pay no nevermind
K1Ng5p4d3
Junior Creatologist
I used to have a generator when i was a kid to back up my pop's mini op if the power ever went out. it was hooked up in the back shed, but it was still loud as shit from what i remember. Do they make quieter ones nowadays that dont sound like an actual engine?? I mean, most of them run off diesel fuel, and you have to crank it over like you would a push lawnmower. I would think that having something like that running 24/7 would be more noticeable than anything else goin on in the house..
Picasso345
Well-Known Member
Like everything else, they have gotten much better. Honda makes some damn quiet generators....not super stealth, but almost silent compared to what you remember I'll bet.
SelfSupplied
Well-Known Member
This notion that police will catch you because of your electricity is a myth. In the event that your electricity consumption is being investigated you're already boned. They need a search warrent for this (and need a search warrent to use a helicopter heat view, while on topic) via. your 4th ammendment rights.
You should instead just be concerned with not telling ANYONE! It is arguably more risky to be a member of this community than to use baller lights.
You should instead just be concerned with not telling ANYONE! It is arguably more risky to be a member of this community than to use baller lights.
SelfSupplied
Well-Known Member
Typically when a search warrent is granted the police will investigate your heat ducts compared to heat ducts of surrounding housing. I've read a lot of busts where the ivnestigator commented that "you could clearly see the electricity running through the house was much more intense than the surrounding houses and one of the heat ducts looked like the sun."
Other things to consider are orange light leaks if you're using HPS, smell leaking, suspicious guests, and rarely even the color of light reflected by marijuana.
Also never throw parties, ever! and don't smoke in your front couple rooms or outside for any reason. The worst thing you can do is give probable cause to search your living quarters.
Other things to consider are orange light leaks if you're using HPS, smell leaking, suspicious guests, and rarely even the color of light reflected by marijuana.
Also never throw parties, ever! and don't smoke in your front couple rooms or outside for any reason. The worst thing you can do is give probable cause to search your living quarters.
K1Ng5p4d3
Junior Creatologist
i agree 100% with keepin your yap shut, but as far as the helicopters go, dont they do random runs anyways lookin for outdoor ops? is it the use of infra red that requires the warrant, because its like theyre looking inside your home, or what?
N as far as the electricity goes, i wasnt talking about the cops monitoring your electricity useage, so much as an electric company employee noticing a pattern like this, and reporting it to the police after they confirm that its a pattern. Basically just to satisfy somebodies paranoia on a subject like this, finding the best way to keep your power useage at a constant level is really what matters, rather than is a certain amount of electricity gonna set off any flags, u know what i mean? I know that the only real reason for somebody to take notice of your useage would be if you dont pay your bill on time and you make somebody bring up your records more than regularly. If you pay your bill on time, they take out your records, see what you owe, and they dont even think twice about looking at numbers before they put your shit back into the pile filed under PAID, lol.
N as far as the electricity goes, i wasnt talking about the cops monitoring your electricity useage, so much as an electric company employee noticing a pattern like this, and reporting it to the police after they confirm that its a pattern. Basically just to satisfy somebodies paranoia on a subject like this, finding the best way to keep your power useage at a constant level is really what matters, rather than is a certain amount of electricity gonna set off any flags, u know what i mean? I know that the only real reason for somebody to take notice of your useage would be if you dont pay your bill on time and you make somebody bring up your records more than regularly. If you pay your bill on time, they take out your records, see what you owe, and they dont even think twice about looking at numbers before they put your shit back into the pile filed under PAID, lol.
Picasso345
Well-Known Member
No and no.
In some communities electricity usage is public information. Ask your Electric Utility for a copy of their privacy policy for details.
The vast majority of grow houses picked up by helicopters happen while the police are investigating another matter entirely - police chases primarily. No search warrant needed. Sorry.
You are correct that the law can't just drive around and randomly FLIR homes though.
SelfSupplied
Well-Known Member
Nah, police chases don't have heat or light camera running. My claim is based on reasearch on busts and the fact that the police report sconsistently cite that a search warrent has been granted in order to use the helicopter. The copters you're reffering to with cameras to aid a ground chase include a standard recording camera, they don't detect light or heat.
It might be true that electricity consumption is public in some places, but my point is that when your electricity consumption is being investigated by the police you're already boned. Electricity can fluctuate for any number of reasons, most of which are completely legal. When the police are investigating your electricity use they're using it to get a search warrent.
Lastly, electric companies don't report their findings to the police. Think about it. "Hey, operator, yeah I just wanted to let you know that one of our customers is consuming more of our product than normal, could you go stop that profit avenue for us?"
It might be true that electricity consumption is public in some places, but my point is that when your electricity consumption is being investigated by the police you're already boned. Electricity can fluctuate for any number of reasons, most of which are completely legal. When the police are investigating your electricity use they're using it to get a search warrent.
Lastly, electric companies don't report their findings to the police. Think about it. "Hey, operator, yeah I just wanted to let you know that one of our customers is consuming more of our product than normal, could you go stop that profit avenue for us?"
Picasso345
Well-Known Member
How do they track someone at night? Of course they use FLIR.
As to your second point, most electric companies are public utilities and don't make a profit.
GrowSpecialist
Well-Known Member
I've heard that electric companies will alert the police when there is a dramatic rise in electricity usage. It may not be enough to get a search warrant... but once the police have this information... they can and will watch your house and maybe even tap your phone. They'll probably follow people who leave your house and find a reason to pull them over... if they bust them for drugs or something, they can try and get your friend to roll on you. Its just a matter of time after they get an electricity alert. They'll eventually dig up something else that will get them a search warrant.
cleef
Well-Known Member
It is true, at least in some areas, that FLIR is used in police chases. It is also true that FLIR imagery, whether obtained accidentally (while looking for something else) or intentionally, cannot be used against you unless obtained after obtaining a warrant.
There also seems to be a misconception of what the utility companies can see. They will not see that there is increased consumption on an 18/6 schedule. They will only see the increase in your total monthly consumption.
There also seems to be a misconception of what the utility companies can see. They will not see that there is increased consumption on an 18/6 schedule. They will only see the increase in your total monthly consumption.
BadDog40
Well-Known Member
Not true. Most utility companies are for profit companies and some are publicly traded.
a water heater runs 3500 kw or so..at least..when operating..and a electric furnace..each single heating bank in it takes 5000kw of power..and most have at least 3 of those h eat banks in it..in the winter time if you are in a colder climate you can let the heat from the lamps and ballast's heat your home..or area or what ever..and you wont use as much heat...your computor pulls another hundred watts..each and every light bulb in your house can b e counted as 60 watt consumption...in the summer you will have to run your ac..unless you live somewhere like canada..as you can see..there are alot of places you can show electrical expense in the winter..in the summer is when your bill is really going to be more noticable ..the 5000 watt heat banks in the winter on a electric furnace take alot of juice to heat a house...
proheto8008
Well-Known Member
I heat with lamps.
coll
Well-Known Member
This makes sense to me, when moved in i established a high consumption history while i was getting everything together, so a $300 increase wouldnt be noticed. Was easy enough just ran computers all the time.
lollercoasterzz
420Blunt's
Well-Known Member
picasso i've agreed with you before, but not on this one. if their in hot pursuit do u think they are gonna stop and look at a house that they went over during their chase of a suspected criminal? 'oh look this house is really hot, let that criminal get a little further ahead while i write down this address and send it in.' its had to tell the address when your looking at it from above.
plus if they do notice during one of their fly overs. thats still not probable cause to search your house. plus, thats why they tell you to insulate the attic just in case they are on to u and try to use IFR as some more evidence.
i dont care how much energy u use they are not gonna strictly come after you for that. unless you are stealing the energy or cable from you neighbor then i wouldnt worry about a thing.
ok yea so most electric companies are public companies. OF COURSE THEY MAKE PROFIT. they pay employees, trucks, repairs, equipment. and where do u think the remainder of the money goes? to the government and to make improvements on the company. i agree with self supplied that ur more likely to get busted on this site that you ever will by electric consumption.
plus if they do notice during one of their fly overs. thats still not probable cause to search your house. plus, thats why they tell you to insulate the attic just in case they are on to u and try to use IFR as some more evidence.
i dont care how much energy u use they are not gonna strictly come after you for that. unless you are stealing the energy or cable from you neighbor then i wouldnt worry about a thing.
ok yea so most electric companies are public companies. OF COURSE THEY MAKE PROFIT. they pay employees, trucks, repairs, equipment. and where do u think the remainder of the money goes? to the government and to make improvements on the company. i agree with self supplied that ur more likely to get busted on this site that you ever will by electric consumption.