By splicing into an underground power line, a man renting a Cobb County home was able to steal the electricity needed to run an elaborate marijuana grow house, police said.
Officers first went to the Austell-area home on Ling Drive to investigate a report from GreyStone Power Corp. of electricity theft, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the AJC. Electricity had been stolen since at least May 25, the power company told police. The dollar value of the power allegedly stolen was not available.
While executing a search warrant at the home, investigators found approximately 450 marijuana plants growing, the warrant states.
"The plants were in various stages of growth," Cobb County police Officer Mike Bowman told the AJC.
The plants were separated,based on their stage of growth, and grouped together with similar-sized plants, Bowman said.
The street value of one pound of marijuana is around $1,000, and officers believe the plants in the home would have yielded around 100 pounds of the illegal drug, the warrant states.
The home's renter, Dung Hoang, 42, was arrested at his actual residence in Lithia Springs and charged with numerous counts including manufacturing marijuana, drug trafficking and marijuana possession, all felonies, according to booking records. Hoang was also charged with theft of services and interference with a public utility, jail records showed.
Hoang set up water and power accounts for the rented home, and there was mail at the house with his name on it, according to police.
He was arrested late Friday and was being held Wednesday night without bond, jail records showed.
The power company did not respond Wednesday to a request for information regarding the case.
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