Meter tampering in the face of sky-high energy bills is putting lives at risk, say industry experts – and in one case caused the death of a toddler.
Rogue electricians and criminal gangs are behind a huge rise in people paying them to bypass their meters, which can cause gas leaks and explosions.
Rewiring electricity meters can cause fatal shocks or start fires.
Crimestoppers recorded 10,694 cases from January to November last year, compared with 2,566 in 2017. But the industry believes the real figure could be closer to 200,000.
A gas emergency engineer said: “I’ve seen people turn their homes into ticking bombs.”
In May 2021, Darren Greenham triggered a fatal blast at his home in Heysham, Lancs, when his meter was bypassed and he cut through a gas pipe to steal copper. It killed George Hinds, two, who lived next door. Greenham, 45, was given a 15-year jail term for manslaughter last year.
Criminal gangs also steal energy to run cannabis farms and cryptocurrency computer operations.
The Retail Energy Code estimates theft of £93million to £155million of gas and £737million to £1.2billion of electricity each year. Howard Forster, of gas operator Cadent, said: “Energy theft is an industry wide concern.”
