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Landlord charged with tapping UGI lines, stealing gas
Published by As Reported by Manuel Gamiz Jr., OF THE MORNING CALL in Energy Theft • 4/30/2011 10:27:37 PM
On April 29, 2011, Reporter Manuel Gamiz Jr., OF THE MORNING CALL http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-gas-theft-20110429,0,6844564.story released a news story stating:

"A 52-year-old landlord is charged with risking a catastrophe after he allegedly re-directed gas from UGI lines to heat three of his properties in Allentown, police said.

"David E. Gasdik, of Bethlehem, was arrested Thursday as Allentown police and fire, UGI officials and city code enforcement were investigating the illegal hook-up, said police Capt. Daryl Hendricks.

"Hendricks said UGI officials were investigating the theft of natural gas at properties at 260, 262 and 264 E. Hamilton St. and requested police assistance. Hendricks said an investigation revealed someone had tapped into the UGI line and re-directed gas to the three homes.

"Police called the fire department and code enforcement to assist. Gasdik showed up a short time later.

"Gasdik, of 3103 Church Road, was charged with risking a catastrophe, theft of services and tampering with evidence. He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail."

RecoverIR believes there is more than 5% natural gas theft in Pennsylvania, and this case of landlord energy theft is just one more case showing more than the poor are energy thieves.

So we ask you, "What will it take for city and state officials to recognize the time has passed to ignore energy theft?"

Please weigh in on this topic.

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Prepaid Smart-Meters for Energy Thieves Could Cut Costs of Bill Paying Customers and Increase Safety
Published by R. G. Lucas in Energy Theft • 2/1/2011 11:58:36 AM
Based upon RecoverIR discussions within the last 6 months with many electric utilities and many natural gas local distribution companies, several common threads seems to be emerging which could be significantly mitigated if electric and gas utilities simply began to install prepaid meters similar to those of First Choice.
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Should Large Urban Utilities be Surprised when Natural Gas New Theft Rates Approach 20%?
Published by R. G. Lucas in Energy Theft • 1/10/2011 9:15:13 PM
Before the aerial infrared survey, the utility thought they 5% of the households might be stealing natural gas, but they soon discovered that almost 20% of the households in the a ver large survey area were natural gas thieves. The results of the survey also revealed that 80% of the households stealing natural gas were also stealing electricity.
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If The Wrong Type of Pipe Can Cause a House to Explode, Imagine Whether Natural Gas Thieves are Using the Correct Pipe!
Published by See CBS Website in Energy Theft • 1/10/2011 8:00:51 PM
“Federal investigators say a utility company used a wrong pipe to repair a gas line, leading to a deadly house explosion in a Sacramento suburb last year.” (Read more at http://cbs5.com/local/christmas.eve.blast.2.1377961.html)
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If the 10th Highest Median Income County (2006-2008) in the Nation Plans to Eliminate Home Heating Subsidies for Thousands of Poor Residents in 2011, “How Many New Energy Thieves Should We Expect in 2011?”
Published by R. G. Lucas in Energy Theft • 12/31/2010 9:03:16 PM
In early December 2010, with the nationwide unemployment rate edging up to 9.8%, the jobless rate hovering above 9% for 19 consecutive months, more than 3 million people scheduled poised to lose unemployment benefits unless Congress extends benefits beyond an unprecidented 99 months, and local and state governments cutting budgets including subsidies for home heating, more heads of household will be motivated to become energy thieves.
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In Philadelphia, of 14,000 customers whose service was turned off in early 2008, 30 percent were illegally using electricity late last year
Published by USA Today (March 17) reports: in Energy Theft • 3/14/2010 8:08:47 PM
USA Today (March 17) reports: In Philadelphia, of 14,000 customers whose service was turned off in early 2008, 30 percent were illegally using electricity late last year”, utility PECO says. Source: Mar 17 USA Today.”
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Michigan to Become One of the First States to Consider Felony Charges for Energy Theft
Published by Eartha Jan Melzer of The Michigan Messenger reported on 3/9/10: in Energy Theft • 3/9/2010 7:56:57 PM
“One week after three Detroit children died in a home with an illegal electricity connection, the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee has scheduled a hearing on legislation that would create new penalties for people who illegally hook up gas or electric service or tamper with meters.”
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“We’re finding more and more people are stealing electricity because of the poor economy.”
Published by John Hammerberg, investigations supervisor for Tampa Electric (TECO) in Energy Theft • 2/10/2010 7:59:26 PM
John Hammerberg, investigations supervisor for Tampa Electric (TECO) was quoted as saying: “We’re finding more and more people are stealing electricity because of the poor economy.”
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Sometimes Natural Gas Theft is Hard to Detect in Industrial Areas
Published by “The Buffalo News” news staff writer, Matt Gryta in Energy Theft • 9/29/2009 8:02:41 PM
On 29 September 2009, “The Buffalo News” news staff writer, Matt Gryta wrote an article “Arts dealer admits natural gas theft” and highlighted “Jeffrey M. Weisberg, a widely known Buffalo arts and antique dealer, pleaded guilty Monday to a felony grand larceny charge linked to heating his West Utica Street home and warehouse for years with an illegal National Fuel gas meter…Weisberg, 61, pleaded guilty to a single count of third-degree grand larceny for the theft of the gas service.”
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