Scarborough police release video of moment they uncover cannabis farm in Scalby

Police stormed a rented property on South Avenue, Scalby, on June 13 this year.

Inside they found a large cannabis grow, believed to have a street value of tens of thousands of pounds, along with associated equipment that the suspect used to keep the plants alive and growing.

The occupant, 21-year-old Murat Karaj of no fixed address, claimed to have travelled from London to ‘decorate’ the house.

He appeared at York Crown Court on September 12 and was due to stand trial in December, however, he changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced that day to two years and five months for production of cannabis.

A police spokesperson said: “Thank you to everyone who called in with information, it really helps inform our policing activity.

“Please do not hesitate to report any information you have about suspected drugs in your neighbourhood.

“Please be assured that we will take action.”

You can pass information by:

• calling police on 101

• anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website

• or by calling 999 in an emergency.

If you suspect someone is producing cannabis in your area, or you are a landlord concerned about your rental properties, look out for the following signs:

Cannabis production

• A distinctive and often strong sweet, sickly smell

• Frequent visitors throughout the day and night

• Blacked out windows, or vents sealed/blocked to prevent the heat and smell of cannabis from inside the property escaping

• Chinks of bright light throughout the night

• In winter, snow melting unusually quickly on the roof

• High levels of condensation on windows

• Noise from fans

• Large amounts of rubbish, including compost bags

• Electricity meter being tampered with/altered and new cabling

Information for landlords

• Poor or no references from a previous letting agent

• Offering to pay several months in advance

• Preference to pay rent in cash without reasonable cause

• Wanting to keep the utility bills in a landlord’s name

• Asking for complete privacy, requesting no periodic inspections or preventing the inspection of the property even when given reasonable notice

• Changing locks to keep landlords and agents away from a property.