Theft Of Power Becoming A State Lawmaker Issue

LANSING (WWJ) - Tough economic times are causing some Michigan residents to go to extreme measures. WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports that some down and out homeowners are stealing power for their homes.

State lawmakers are now dealing with the ongoing and dangerous practice of stealing power. With DTE power company and law-makers saying it's not only fraud it's dangerous.

Representative Ken Horn who wants to clamp down on this theft: "We're putting neighborhoods in danger by allowing the theft to continue in the DTE footprint we were hearing  the figures are between $6 to 800 million a year that means all of us have to pay for that," said Horn.

The DTE Energy website notes that it's not just the legal side people need to address but there is a risk of injury or death from tampering with utilities.

"People are hooking up electric bypassing meters with jumper cables. They are bypassing the gas meters, houses are blowing up - houses are burning down ... we are putting neighborhoods in danger by allowing the theft to continue," said Horn.