Warning issued over energy theft as cases spike in Truro
Nearly thirty cases were recorded in Truro over the past year alone.
People in Cornwall are being warned that tampering with gas and electricity supplies could put their lives at risk.
It comes after Truro recorded nearly thirty cases of energy theft over the past year.
Nationally, the number of confirmed cases has risen by twenty-three per cent over five years, and now stands at more than twenty-one thousand a year, according to safety campaign Stay Energy Safe.
The organisation says interfering with meters can cause fires, explosions and even electrocution.
Annette Booysen, senior account manager at Crimestoppers, which runs the Stay Energy Safe service, explained what energy theft actually involves.
"Energy theft is when people tamper with their meter or their energy supply, and that can be in homes or in businesses, and they do it so that they can reduce the amount of money they're paying on their gas and electricity bills," she said.
"This is not a victimless crime. It is really, really dangerous."
She said tampering with a meter or electricity supply can cause sparks, gas and carbon monoxide leaks, electric shocks, fires and explosions - and in the worst cases, can be fatal.
Ms Booysen said the reasons behind the crime vary.
"It could definitely be because of the cost of living crisis. Everyone is struggling at the moment," she said.
"You've got people at home struggling with their energy bills and you've got businesses struggling to stay afloat, but you've also got those more unscrupulous characters - criminals stealing electricity to power their cannabis farms, and you've even got those who are just pure greedy."
She said there are warning signs people can look out for.
"If they see a meter with unusual wiring or piping, if they see sparks or melted plastic or damage to the meter, then these can all be signs that energy theft has taken place," she said.
"And of course, if they smell gas around the meter, that's also a big sign."
The campaign is continuing to warn people across Cornwall of the risks of tampering with their supply, as cases continue to be recorded locally and across the country.