re: How is this crime committed?

quote:

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So, you think he and the 'victim' were working together? There was only one arrest. It's also weird because water here is cheap. My water bill is 40 a month.

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That's a about what it is in Trenton. But it's a big issue here. Mostly because water employees were using trucks and parts from the utility to repair and hook up water lines (sans meters) to customers and collect payment in cash. LINK

In this case even if the home owner claims that he didn't know about it, if it can be proven that the neighbor broke the lock on the meter than he could be caught for the theft.

"If" the neighbor was truly innocent, then maybe the guy wanted to fill his swimming pool but didn't want to use his well water / city water and thought he was being slick by using the neighbor's.