Frederick County sheriff's deputies seized 30 marijuana plants from a house garden outside New Windsor after a mortgage company employee spotted the plants on a routine investigation, officials said.

The house -- on Hemp Avenue, which runs off Route 31 about a mile into Frederick County -- was unoccupied when they confiscated the plants Monday, deputies said. The plants ranged from a foot to 7 feet high, said Sgt. Ralf Berger, a spokesman for the sheriff's office. Some of the plants were in containers and appeared to have been harvested.

Police officials said the investigation was continuing.