A 61-year-old man was arrested Friday, March 27, when Riverside County sheriff’s deputies raided two homes in Perris that they say were connected to an illegal marijuana growing operation.

Deputies served search warrants at two homes in the Monument Ranch neighborhood, one in the 190 block of Goldenrod Avenue and another about a mile north in the 3500 block of Pyramid Trail.

Deputies found and seized 3,300 marijuana plants and 25 pounds of processed marijuana between the two sites, Sgt. Victor

Pierson said.

Crews from Southern California Edison also discovered that the operators had stolen more than $120,000 worth of electricity during a nine-month period, Pierson added. The electricity is used to power grow lamps and air conditioning.

The owner of at least one of the homes, Pingyao Situ of Perris, was arrested on suspicion of illegal marijuana cultivation and utility theft.