Energy Theft - a victimless crime?

Energy theft is something many people think is a victimless crime, but the consequences can be severe.

Energy theft involves stealing electricity or gas by not having it recorded properly and is a massive issue that has led to some serious incidents in the past says Stay Energy Safe, an organisation started by Crimestoppers.

When someone tampers with an electricity or a gas meter, the connections can cause the meter to not record properly. This means that they could be using far more energy than they are paying for and is, in effect, theft. It is illegal, and it is a serious matter that comes with plenty of risks.

Many people believe that energy theft is only something that affects the energy providers who are losing out on money.

This is not the case at all, as there are more serious factors at play. One of the reasons energy theft is risky is that the thief is tampering with the meter. When this happens, the meter could be more prone to short-circuiting and this has serious consequences.

Short-circuiting can cause fatal electric shocks and fires in an electricity meter.

If you tamper with your gas meter, you could find that this will cause gas leaks or even gas explosions.

This is a very serious issue and it is something which you should try to avoid at all costs. If any of these situations occur, you could cause serious damage to both yourself and your home.

If you think that someone you know is committing energy theft, you should aim to report them to the relevant people as soon as possible. Stay Energy Safe is an organisation that allows you to report energy theft anonymously by filling in a form which is promptly followed up and investigated immediately.

Stay Energy Safe is powered by Crimestoppers so you can rest assured that the information will be handled properly.

A spokesperson for Stay Energy Safe said: “Energy theft is a serious crime which can put you, your neighbours’ and your family’s lives at risk.

“Spreading the word and raising awareness is key in ensuring that the public feel safe, but equally as important is making sure that any suspicion of energy theft is reported.

“Every report is taken seriously, and this is integral as we work to put an end to energy theft, giving people the freedom to feel safe in their own home.”

Contact the reporting line by phoning 0800 023 2777 - Just a quick call can save a life.

Or visit their web site to report energy theft anonymously by filling in a form:

• www.stayenergysafe.co.uk/report-energy-crime/