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Electricity theft is a criminal offence under the law. The offence is similar to theft. If you can hardly explain your electricity consumption, you should take action.
Electricity theft: what you need to know
Open your electricity bill and wonder about an excessively high electricity consumption, there may be electricity theft. However, first check with the electricity provider to see if there is a billing error.
- If unauthorised persons tap into your own electricity, this is electricity theft. This is carried out by connecting a suitable power conductor. Unauthorised bypassing of an electricity meter also counts as a criminal offence.
- Switch off all sources of electricity consumption and note down the meter reading afterwards. This should not change after the sources of consumption have been switched off.
- This procedure can be repeated at different times of the day. Tip: Especially when darkness falls, electricity thieves often feel unobserved.
- You can also switch off the fuses when you leave the house. If they are freely accessible and switched on again when you return home, it can be assumed that it is a case of electricity theft.
Exposing an electricity thief: what you can do
If you want to find out who is tapping into your electricity, you can observe from a distance. However, please do not put yourself in danger when doing so.
- Depending on where the electricity box is located, it can be observed from a safe distance at different times and after the fuse has been switched off. Especially after dark, an electricity thief will show up to find out why he is no longer receiving the unauthorised tapped electricity.
- If there is reasonable suspicion, you should report the theft to the police.
- The landlord should also be informed. If the electricity thief is active on house lines, the landlord must take action as soon as possible.
