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Buying USED equipment - KNOW your source!
- Thread starter Strainhunter
- Start date
Maybe the guy who sold the ballast wasn't a ripper or a cop, but some guy who bought a bunch of ballasts off of some ripper or cop, plugged them in, found they didn't work, so he tried to pass off the crappy merchandise on to a third party?
BongRipkenJR.
Active member
A manufacturer would never ruin their name to put out a ballast with GPS in it. Gps trackers are cheap and small. They don't have to be wired, but if they were to tell when the light turns on and off then yes, they would probably wire it in there. Seems like a lot of effort, but the cops still do some fucking weird shit! If there was a new power chord attached to it, more than likely it had been involved in a police bust before. Police like to cut the chords on the ballasts and take nothing but the ballasts and bulbs. They leave fans, filters, and hoods. I see these hoods with no lamp chords and no ballasts all the times on craigslist. Usually it is a homeowner that rented the house out and somebody blew it up, got raided, and he was left with thousands in grow equipment.
Some of you guys are just way to naive.
We don't know why there was a GPS in Toms ballast, we don't know who placed it in there.
If you would have bothered to Google GPS related Marijuana busts it would have saved me from having to do that for you LOL.
Here is one, remember this is just a random story picked from countless ones found HERE.
Link:
GPS Tracker attached to plastic pipes and water emitters being purchased in cash from local distributors.
If (some of you) think LEO would not go through such lengths to do something like that...I am going to give you just a couple fairly random examples what LEO has "bothered" doing in the past and/or is still doing @ present.
One of the more interesting parts within that list is on the bottom of it under:
"POSSIBLE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES"
Some food for thought.
Here is a copy & paste from the DEA & Oregon + California State Police.
For those smart asses who are going to Google the below list to prove its existence...you are going to find it was established in 1991.
But you are also going to find it still is in effect today.
"Profiles of Indoor Cannabis Growers"
EQUIPMENT USED IN CANNABIS CULTIVATION
Lighting
~~~~~~~~
* 1000 or 400 watt metal halides or high pressure sodium bulbs
* Ballasts for the above bulbs
* "Sun circles," "Whirligigs" or runners to move lights
* Chain systems to raise and lower lights
* Metallic or white dome-type lamp shades
* Various brands, lengths and styles of grow lights
* Mylar or white plastic
* Light meters and ampmeters to measure lamp output and ballast amperage
* Auto and manual timers
* Generators of various sizes and outputs
* Alligator clamps and leads to assist in electrical bypass
Grow-Room equipment (other than lighting equipment)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~
* Hydroponics setup in 5-gallon buckets
* Drip-irrigation systems, including PVC pipe, pumps, float valves, 55-gallon
polydrums, etc
* Growing mediums, such as lava rock or potting soil
* Insecticides, electric soil sterilizer, natural predators, such as ladybugs
* CO2 Injection system with valves, regulators, air filters, dehumidifyers
* Air-conditioning units, exhaust fans, oscillating fans
Clone or nursery-room equipment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Pruning shears
* Cloning trays
* Rootone or hormonal solutions to stimulate plant growth
* Tubular grow lights or Phototrons
* Water-bed heaters
* Seed sources
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
If you read the original post you will see the guy was trying to sell 12 ballasts.
supersmallgiant
Member
Your wood fired steam driven genny of course
Some of you guys are just way to naive.
We don't know why there was a GPS in Toms ballast, we don't know who placed it in there.
If you would have bothered to Google GPS related Marijuana busts it would have saved me from having to do that for you LOL.
Here is one, remember this is just a random story picked from countless ones found HERE.
Link:
GPS Tracker attached to plastic pipes and water emitters being purchased in cash from local distributors.
If (some of you) think LEO would not go through such lengths to do something like that...I am going to give you just a couple fairly random examples what LEO has "bothered" doing in the past and/or is still doing @ present.
One of the more interesting parts within that list is on the bottom of it under:
"POSSIBLE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES"
Some food for thought.
Here is a copy & paste from the DEA & Oregon + California State Police.
For those smart asses who are going to Google the below list to prove its existence...you are going to find it was established in 1991.
But you are also going to find it still is in effect today.
"Profiles of Indoor Cannabis Growers"
EQUIPMENT USED IN CANNABIS CULTIVATION
Lighting
~~~~~~~~
* 1000 or 400 watt metal halides or high pressure sodium bulbs
* Ballasts for the above bulbs
* "Sun circles," "Whirligigs" or runners to move lights
* Chain systems to raise and lower lights
* Metallic or white dome-type lamp shades
* Various brands, lengths and styles of grow lights
* Mylar or white plastic
* Light meters and ampmeters to measure lamp output and ballast amperage
* Auto and manual timers
* Generators of various sizes and outputs
* Alligator clamps and leads to assist in electrical bypass
Grow-Room equipment (other than lighting equipment)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~
* Hydroponics setup in 5-gallon buckets
* Drip-irrigation systems, including PVC pipe, pumps, float valves, 55-gallon
polydrums, etc
* Growing mediums, such as lava rock or potting soil
* Insecticides, electric soil sterilizer, natural predators, such as ladybugs
* CO2 Injection system with valves, regulators, air filters, dehumidifyers
* Air-conditioning units, exhaust fans, oscillating fans
Clone or nursery-room equipment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Pruning shears
* Cloning trays
* Rootone or hormonal solutions to stimulate plant growth
* Tubular grow lights or Phototrons
* Water-bed heaters
* Seed sources
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
dea green merchant list? damn that was like 1995 those lazy government folk sure recycle shit.
My water wheel don't got no GPS on it!!
Ya but Tom had several email exchanges with the guy beforehand so im thinking he would have indicated at some point to the seller he only wanted one ballast (wouldve been sorta dick to make the guy lug around 12 ballasts in his car). If the guy was trying to rip grows he wouldve dropped Tom as a customer right away. i mean why waste time energy and gps devices on this guy who isnt worth stealing from?
Captain Ginyu
Member
Anyone who thinks LEO wouldn't be up to that, & play by the rules is an ignorant sheep! Those fuckers have absolutely no compunction about breaking their own laws to get what they're after.
In the end, it's their word against your's...Guess who the jury is going to believe?
In the end, it's their word against your's...Guess who the jury is going to believe?
walt cunningham
Member
can you just post the pics that "tom" showed you?
No I can't.
DasFox
Member
THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^No offense dude but I call bullshit...good story though.
THANKS
