Ortonville- A village resident is facing a possible larceny charge after allegedly stealing natural gas from a neighbor to heat his apartment.
According to police reports, the suspect’s neighbor noticed an unusual increase in her Consumers Energy bill in February. She called the company, who sent a service technician out to her apartment on James Street to see what the trouble was. The CE employee discovered the woman’s neighbor, who shares a basement with her, had a lock on his gas meter and had hooked up a gas line from her water heater to his furnace.
When questioned by police, the man said he hadn’t intentionally hooked into his neighbor’s gas line, he had only been trying to even out pressure between their pilot lights. He then said he hadn’t realized his gas had been shut off (for non-payment) and he was not aware his home was being heated by his neighbor. After he learned it was shut off, he said the amount he owed was beyond his ability to pay and he knowingly left the line connected to his neighbor in order to heat his apartment for his fiancee and her daughter. He offered to pay her $300, but the woman called police and has calculated the money she is owed as $502.24, a bill she said she is unable to pay to Consumers.
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Pete Burkett of the Brandon substation said this is the first time he has seen someone steal natural gas.
‘What is more common is people hooking up to other people’s cable or electric meters or power lines,? he said. ‘I’ve never seen anyone hook up for gas.?
While Burkett hasn’t had experience with this criminal activity, Debra Dodd, a spokesperson for Consumers Energy, said natural gas theft is on the rise? so much so that the company has created a department dedicated to tracking theft.
‘Things have gotten worse and we need to get a handle on this for the safety of customers and the safety of employees,? Dodd said. ‘We have seen thefts increase and it’s very unwise, because if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be a very volatile fuel. We’ve seen people run garden hoses and use improper piping, let alone they don’t know what they’re doing. You can hurt yourself and others if you’re screwing around and don’t know what you’re doing.?
She acknowledged that in the current economy, people are having trouble paying their bills, but customers should tell Consumers Energy if they are having a problem and the company will work with them for payment arrangements. Too often, she said, customers in trouble wait until their gas is shut off, and then they will have to pay their back bill, in addition to a reconnection fee and a deposit, making it even more expensive.
If customers steal, Consumers Energy will seek full prosecution, as well as reimbursement for the amount of gas stolen and any repairs that need to be done.
‘In the long run, you will be paying a lot more than if you would have just called us to work something out,? Dodd said. ‘You don’t want to endanger yourself or anyone else and that is what you’re doing when you steal gas.?
For any Consumers Energy related concerns, call toll-free, 800-477-5050.