It’s harvest time for marijuana plants and with that comes an increased potential for violent crimes.

In the past month, the Journal has reported a handful of thefts involving pot plants and violence.

There have also been several large drug raids at grow sites in the area.

“This is harvesting time,” said Sgt. John Giovannini with Placer County Sheriff’s Office. “We’re finding more and more grows all over the state.”

On Friday, Giovannini reported that Tahoe division deputies found two separate illegal marijuana grow sites in the same week.

Three men were arrested in connection with the gardens that had an estimated street value of $750,000.

Christopher Egger, 23, of Tahoe City, Steven Day, 48, of Olympic Valley and Mathew Steele, 28, of Tahoe City were arrested on charges of marijuana cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy.

All three were no longer in custody as of Monday.

Two of the related marijuana sites, one of which yielded about 200 mature plants, were found in the Deep Creek Drainage area just north of Olympic Valley while the third site, which had about 31 mature plants, was found in the Pole Creek drainage area just north of Olympic Valley. No arrests were made at the site of the third garden.

Giovannini said the sheriff’s helicopter “Falcon 30” was “instrumental” in weeding out the gardens from natural forest in the area.

“This time of year the helicopters are coming out a lot of the time looking for grows,” Giovannini said. “It’s getting close to harvest time and the plants are much more visible.”

The Tahoe bust isn’t the only recent marijuana-related crime in the area:

- In early September, Nevada County Sheriff’s officials arrested Charles Hilkey, 55, of North San Juan, for his alleged ties to 10 indoor and outdoor marijuana gardens in a 360-acre area in North San Juan.

- One Colfax and one Auburn man were arrested Sept. 15 on charges related to a violent marijuana theft.

Kenneth James Rutledge, 21 of Colfax, and Christopher Blake Hixson, 20, of Auburn, were charged with a felony count of robbery and misdemeanor charges of battery, petty theft and transportation of less than 28.5 grams of marijuana.

The two men allegedly stole six of a Colfax man’s medical marijuana plants. When the man confronted Rutledge and Hixson, the two reportedly kneed and punched the victim.

Rutledge and Hixson also reportedly stole the victim’s loaded shotgun.

- El Dorado County Sheriff’s investigators are searching for three to seven suspects in a home burglary and assault case Sept. 25 in Garden Valley.

Seven people allegedly broke into a Garden Valley man’s home and stole the medical marijuana plants in his backyard. They reportedly used guns and left some of their weaponry on scene.

The homeowner was also left to bandage up several abrasions and bruises following a fight, Lt. Bryan Golmitz reported.

Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.