Yellowknife (Oct 22/04) - Call it "The Case of the Burgled Bud," or maybe "The Case of the Ganja Grabber."

Whatever the title, police were surprised when a homeowner in the Frame Lake area complained that thieves stole a bag of marijuana during a break and enter last week.

"That's not the type of thing that usually gets reported," said RCMP Const. Kerri Riehl. "Usually people keep information like that to themselves."

The marijuana apparently belonged to the teenage son of the complainant, said Riehl. She did not know precisely how much was stolen, but it was not "a large amount."

First time for everything

Riehl said this was the first time she has heard of a burglary victim reporting a stash of illegal narcotics to the RCMP.

"I was a little bit surprised to see that in the report," chuckled Riehl.

In the unlikely event the marijuana is recovered, Riehl said it would not be returned.

"I would be surprised if we were able to locate it," she said. "But if it is found, it would be seized and destroyed."

Riehl said marijuana recovered by the police is usually burned.

The admission by the homeowner would not lead to criminal charges, said Riehl.

In addition to the stolen bud, Riehl said the thief or thieves made away with an unspecified amount of cash.

Police have yet to arrest a suspect in connection with the break and enter. The investigation is ongoing.