Sacramento Police Investigate Burglaries Targeting Cannabis Distributors – CBS Sacramento

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Sacramento police are investigating a series of burglaries targeting local cannabis distributors.

Thieves break into warehouses in the wee hours of the morning and fly away with up to $ 100,000 worth of marijuana.

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A twisted and broken iron fence was just some of the damage left by a team of cannabis scammers.

“They cut barriers, they drove vehicles through the walls, they went out of their way to get in,†said Brandy Moulton, CEO of Sovereign.

Sacramento Police said there have been more than 50 break-ins into the marijuana business since August, including at least six in the past week.

“We have unfortunately seen a huge increase in cannabis-related burglaries,†said the Sacramento police sergeant. Matt Young.

Surveillance video from the most recent crime shows a team of at least seven people, in two cars, breaking into a warehouse run by Sovereign, a delivery-only dispensary.

“They got out of it before the cops showed up and they hit someone else seven minutes later,” Moulton said.

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The Moulton warehouse has now been targeted twice in the past two weeks.

“For local mom and pop style small businesses like me, a financial blow like this can literally put you out of business,†she said.

Most of the warehouses are not open to the public and house large cannabis growing operations. But the owners say thieves often leave the plants – and only take cash and marijuana that has already been harvested for distribution.

The city requires all cannabis production facilities to have cameras, alarms and other safety devices, but police are urging owners to take even more steps to protect their pot.

“The way these shows go is if the criminals come in and get nothing,†Sgt. said Young. “It will send them a message that this geographic area is not good for them to attempt these crimes.”

Moulton employees now take turns monitoring security video feeds in real time.

“I don’t know if I can take one more shot and unfortunately I suspect they will be back,†said Moulton.

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Business owners say they also have problems obtaining insurance for these types of crimes, as growing and selling marijuana is still federally illegal.

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