here is an excerpt from an investigation on a certain grower from back in 91...
read and learn...
INDICATORS
~~~~~~~~~~
* Suspect appears on the DEA Green Merchant list
* Suspect is a member of the Hydroponic Society of America, PO box 6067,
Concord, CA 94524
* Suspect receives frequent calls from known marijuana growers or distributors
* Suspect's phone tolls reveal contact with outlets that sell equipment
related to marijauana growing, IE Dansco or Hamilton
* Suspect uses a business front for money laundering
* Suspect buys property and places someone else in it, or "straw purchase"
* Suspect has a lease with an option to buy, or has no credit but makes large
cash payments
* Suspect buys a ranch or farm, but does not operate it in a norm matter
* Neighbors indicate that the ranch is supporting more people than normal
c1* Suspect has guard dogs, such as rottweilers, pit bulls, Doberman
pinschers,
or German Shepherds
* Suspect is unfriendly and acts paranoid toward neighbors and others, e.g.
public utilities, telephone service, or power service
* Suspect has large outbuildings on the property that are kept closed, i.e.
barns, sheds, excavations, etc.
* Windows that would normally be open are always covered
* Outbuildings have swamp coolers or air conditioners
* Excessive water usage, or water lines or electrical cords running to
basement or outbuildings
* Unusual number of roof vents, exhaust-fan, ballast noise or windows sweating
in outbuildings or house
* Meter seals broken or tampered with, or access to meter denied
* Backline feed
c1* Potting soil present around outbuildings and flower beds
* Lava rock or other hydroponic medium scattered around outbuildings
* Suspect uses outside contractors to construct buildings
* Suspect request that underground power lines going into newly constructed
building be left uncovered
* Property posted for no trespassing, or presence of security gates and alarm
systems
* Eratic or sudden increase/decrease in power consumption
* Delivery of large amounts of propane, diesel, or wood
* Suspect purchases a power generator
* U-Haul or delivery trucks arriving late at night
* Suspect tells conflicting stories aobut how he earns his money, claiming it
is from inheritance, lottery, etc
* Suspect frequently observed using pay phone
* Suspect has a portable or car phone
* Suspect has a beeper
* Suspect goes on unexplained trips
* Suspect deals in cash, and request receipts made out to "cash"
* Suspect avoids leaving paper trail
* Suspect buys a large amount of Baggies, Seal-a-Meal, or other packing
materials
* Increased activity at the suspects location every 45-90 days
* Suspect purchases a large quantity of 3 and 5 gallon buckets or PVC pipe,
fans, vents, pumps, mylar, etc
* Companies delivering potting soil and fertilizers to any location other than
site where soil is to be used
* Suspect owns only a few items of furniture
* Suspect indicates taht he is self-employed on rental applications
* Suspect rents or leases property, such as a single-family home with attached
garage, or a single-family ranch/home with attached garage, or outbuildings
* Houses rented under an assumed name
* Boxes, bags, or suitcases often carried in or out of residence
* Suspect may leave a PO box or paper telephone number as contact point
* Presence of packaging material from 400 to 1000 watt metal halide or high
pressure sodium bulbs
POSSIBLE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Obtain phone tolls of businesses that sell marijuana-growing equip.
* Obtain suspect's power bills for the last 6 months to a year
* Obtain suspect's water bills for the last 6 months to a year
* Surveil outlets that sell marijuana growing equipment
* Educate utilty companies and establish contact person within the company
* Check with companies that sell sea-freight containers, semitrailers, vans,
55 gallon poly drums or 3 and 5 gallon plastic buckets
* Check with companies that sell generators, propane, diesel, or wood
* Check with hardware stores for large purchase of fans, dehumidifier pruning
shears, etc.
* Check with nurseries for sales of potting soil and fertilizers
* Consider thermal imager or FLIR surveillance to confirm the presence of
"grow lights" and active vents
SOURCES: "Profiles of Indoor Cannabis Growers", Drug Enforcement
Administration, compiled by DEA S/A Charles A. Stowell, and detective Rob
Ringsage, Oregon State Police.
read and learn...
INDICATORS
~~~~~~~~~~
* Suspect appears on the DEA Green Merchant list
* Suspect is a member of the Hydroponic Society of America, PO box 6067,
Concord, CA 94524
* Suspect receives frequent calls from known marijuana growers or distributors
* Suspect's phone tolls reveal contact with outlets that sell equipment
related to marijauana growing, IE Dansco or Hamilton
* Suspect uses a business front for money laundering
* Suspect buys property and places someone else in it, or "straw purchase"
* Suspect has a lease with an option to buy, or has no credit but makes large
cash payments
* Suspect buys a ranch or farm, but does not operate it in a norm matter
* Neighbors indicate that the ranch is supporting more people than normal
c1* Suspect has guard dogs, such as rottweilers, pit bulls, Doberman
pinschers,
or German Shepherds
* Suspect is unfriendly and acts paranoid toward neighbors and others, e.g.
public utilities, telephone service, or power service
* Suspect has large outbuildings on the property that are kept closed, i.e.
barns, sheds, excavations, etc.
* Windows that would normally be open are always covered
* Outbuildings have swamp coolers or air conditioners
* Excessive water usage, or water lines or electrical cords running to
basement or outbuildings
* Unusual number of roof vents, exhaust-fan, ballast noise or windows sweating
in outbuildings or house
* Meter seals broken or tampered with, or access to meter denied
* Backline feed
c1* Potting soil present around outbuildings and flower beds
* Lava rock or other hydroponic medium scattered around outbuildings
* Suspect uses outside contractors to construct buildings
* Suspect request that underground power lines going into newly constructed
building be left uncovered
* Property posted for no trespassing, or presence of security gates and alarm
systems
* Eratic or sudden increase/decrease in power consumption
* Delivery of large amounts of propane, diesel, or wood
* Suspect purchases a power generator
* U-Haul or delivery trucks arriving late at night
* Suspect tells conflicting stories aobut how he earns his money, claiming it
is from inheritance, lottery, etc
* Suspect frequently observed using pay phone
* Suspect has a portable or car phone
* Suspect has a beeper
* Suspect goes on unexplained trips
* Suspect deals in cash, and request receipts made out to "cash"
* Suspect avoids leaving paper trail
* Suspect buys a large amount of Baggies, Seal-a-Meal, or other packing
materials
* Increased activity at the suspects location every 45-90 days
* Suspect purchases a large quantity of 3 and 5 gallon buckets or PVC pipe,
fans, vents, pumps, mylar, etc
* Companies delivering potting soil and fertilizers to any location other than
site where soil is to be used
* Suspect owns only a few items of furniture
* Suspect indicates taht he is self-employed on rental applications
* Suspect rents or leases property, such as a single-family home with attached
garage, or a single-family ranch/home with attached garage, or outbuildings
* Houses rented under an assumed name
* Boxes, bags, or suitcases often carried in or out of residence
* Suspect may leave a PO box or paper telephone number as contact point
* Presence of packaging material from 400 to 1000 watt metal halide or high
pressure sodium bulbs
POSSIBLE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Obtain phone tolls of businesses that sell marijuana-growing equip.
* Obtain suspect's power bills for the last 6 months to a year
* Obtain suspect's water bills for the last 6 months to a year
* Surveil outlets that sell marijuana growing equipment
* Educate utilty companies and establish contact person within the company
* Check with companies that sell sea-freight containers, semitrailers, vans,
55 gallon poly drums or 3 and 5 gallon plastic buckets
* Check with companies that sell generators, propane, diesel, or wood
* Check with hardware stores for large purchase of fans, dehumidifier pruning
shears, etc.
* Check with nurseries for sales of potting soil and fertilizers
* Consider thermal imager or FLIR surveillance to confirm the presence of
"grow lights" and active vents
SOURCES: "Profiles of Indoor Cannabis Growers", Drug Enforcement
Administration, compiled by DEA S/A Charles A. Stowell, and detective Rob
Ringsage, Oregon State Police.
...
yeah man....that one hit me really hard.....I thought really appropriate...(I'm like that......draw something huge from the most insignificant things....the bulb goes on 
....)
