Medical marijuana 'seized' by cop look-alikes

Two robbers impersonating law enforcement officers took marijuana valued at $30,000 or more from Oregon House residents who were growing it legally for a co-op, Yuba County Sheriff Steve Durfor said Monday.

The incident at a house in the 9000 block of Sweetwater Trail was reported at 9:04 p.m. Sunday.

After identifying themselves as officers, the armed men bound the homeowner and four roommates, then ransacked the house, taking about 4 pounds of processed marijuana and 15 mature plants from an outdoor garden, Durfor said.

The robbers were dressed in "tactical type" police uniforms and carried rifles, said department spokeswoman Melanie Oakes.

Oakes declined to say which agency the robbers claimed to represent. Releasing the information could evoke the wrong response from growers being visited by actual officers, she said.

Similar alleged robberies have been reported in Butte and Shasta counties recently and investigators in the three counties are comparing notes, Oakes told the Contra Costa Times.

It was not clear how the robbers, who were not acquainted with the victims, knew that marijuana was being grown at the house. Some neighbors were aware of the operation, and growers often put up extra-tall fences around their outdoor gardens, said Oakes.

The identity of the victims was withheld for their protection.

The robbers also took the victims' cell phones. One resident who tried to resist sustained minor injuries to his scalp but declined medical attention.

The street value of the stolen marijuana was estimated at $30,000 to $40,000.

Contact Appeal-Democrat re-porter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.