# My neighbor is... stealing my electricity. In a really dumb way. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 7, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690 "2012-08-07T03:05:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/241 "2012-08-09T02:07:25Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Turn just about everything on in your apartment. Make sure the stove and AC are on and running. The meter spinning like a top is probably yours. Now go turn everthing off. Is that meter now moving much less? Thats probably your meter. Or, here’s a thought: If there’s one (or several) cluster(s) of electric meters somewhere that you can see them, just look to see if they have the apartment numbers marked on them. Meters in apartments I’ve lived in always did – usually hand-scrawled somehow on the meter (and commonly rather faded). But hey, Mr. Meter Reader has to know which meter goes with which apartment. (Are these Smart Meters, or do they still have a Meter Reader making the rounds to read them?) ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/242 "2012-08-09T02:09:38Z")
There won’t be proof of what was used on the past but he’ll at least be able to tell if the guy’s powering his whole apartment because his power has been cut off or just using it for a few items. I think a small claims judge could make some sort of decision based on one day of usage more than he could with nothing. I don’t see the stupidity of waiting a few more days. I think people are overreacting a little to him not acting immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/243 "2012-08-09T02:15:46Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Are the police psychic? How are they going to know I wasn’t aware of it for a week or two, or however long it’s there, but they’ll know I became aware of it on Tuesday instead of Thursday? Are they going to search get a warrant for my Amazon records to figure out when I bought the meter? Are they going to hit me with some waterboarding to make me confess I knew a whole 2 days? These things not likely a problem. But pulling out his plug and then plugging it back in (with the meter in place) could come back t bite you, I’m going to guess. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/244 "2012-08-09T02:21:58Z")
> [@Zulema](#): > > I don’t see the stupidity of waiting a few more days. I think people are overreacting a little to him not acting immediately. Waiting a few days? Fine. Unplugging the cord? Fine. _Plugging it back in_? Stupid. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/245 "2012-08-09T02:31:43Z")
Seriously, talk to the cops. Whether or not they do anything about it, there’s now documentation. If things escalate, that documentation can be very helpful. (Learned from calling the cops on my neighbors four times for their past-2-AM loud parties. Third time, neighbor tried to get the cop to come in drinking. Landlord, with police documentation, clamped down -hard-.) ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/246 "2012-08-09T02:43:54Z")
My vote is for cutting the end of the cord and replacing it with a female end. They sell these at Home Depot and Lowes. Just leave it dangling there by the outlet. He’ll climb down, or pull the cord back up, and be very confused… It’s not like he can complain about you “damaging” his cord. It’s not visibly damaged, and he couldn’t prove that it was altered without admitting that he had it plugged into your outlet. It’ll take an amateur around 20 minutes (or longer depending on your level of clumsiness) with a pair of wire strippers and a screwdriver to swap the end from male to female though - so wait until he’s not home. If you know what you’re doing you could bang it out in like 3 minutes, but if that were the case I’m sure you would have already thought of it. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/247 "2012-08-09T02:45:20Z")
I’m not saying it’s the dumbest thing ever, I’m just saying your rationale is a little irrational. You’re concerned he may be stealing a significant amount of electricity… So you’re going to let him steal three days’ worth more? When you plug that thing in, you’ll get a number. What if he isn’t home? What if he only uses it at night? The number on your gizmo isn’t going to tell the whole story. Your electric bill will. If it’s significantly higher than normal, you can use your bill as evidence. You don’t need the gizmo except to satisfy your (and our) curiosity. And as others have pointed out, the moment you plug him back in, you’re effectively approving all subsequent energy usage. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/248 "2012-08-09T02:49:52Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > and she’s using your outlet to power her Kongster 4000 I’m not quite sure I’d want to hear if she was using the Kongster 4000… _warning! __Dangerous sound file link ahead!__ Hide yon virgins!_ [The Kongster Beat](http://www.basementarcade.com/arcade/sounds/DK/intro.wav) ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/249 "2012-08-09T02:58:16Z")
If you just use your last month’s bill and this month’s you can sue him for the difference. You’re use of more air conditioning doesn’t even matter, let him pay for it. You don’t have to be fair to a thief. I bet he’s using it for either everything or something that draws a lot of power otherwise why would he even bother. Can you call the electric company and see if he even still has power? Our utilities will give out information on power usage of properties to anyone who calls. ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/250 "2012-08-09T03:24:22Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > #2 has a serious chance of backfiring - just ask O.J. Simpson how well “self-administered justice” works. I agree. Hide in the bushes and stab him to death. A proven solution.\* Disclaimer- though nearly anyone can get a reality TV show for screwing on supposedly hidden camera only current celebrities get off for murder. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/251 "2012-08-09T03:38:39Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Meters in apartments I’ve lived in always did – usually hand-scrawled somehow on the meter (and commonly rather faded). Well no duh. If the meter says apartment X on it he should use that information obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/252 "2012-08-09T03:47:38Z")
One thing is for certain: the day the OP disconnects the juice, his neighbor is going to buy some tap shoes for lounging around the house. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/253 "2012-08-09T04:39:30Z")
Not if theft of services is a breach of contract, and he’s evicted. It’s a pretty minor thing, all in all, I don’t see why all the angst over **SenorBeef** satisfying, at the least, his curiosity. This isn’t frikkin’ Law & Order. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/254 "2012-08-09T05:27:38Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Not if theft of services is a breach of contract, and he’s evicted. > > It’s a pretty minor thing, all in all, I don’t see why all the angst over **SenorBeef** satisfying, at the least, his curiosity. > > This isn’t frikkin’ Law & Order. I guess I don’t see how the number is going to reveal anything useful. It’s not like it’s going to say, “hot plate, currently being used to warm up pathetic ramen dinner and expired Dinty Moore stew.” It’s going to say 45 watts, or, more likely given the length of this thread, 0 watts. Okay, now what? Call landlord, get him evicted. Wow, totally worth it! 45 watts! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/255 "2012-08-09T05:28:18Z")
> [@Zulema](#): > > If you just use your last month’s bill and this month’s you can sue him for the difference. \ The variance of my power bills from month to month isn’t more than the cost of some electricity stolen to run something not very high-powered. The difference _might_ get him some satisfaction in small claim’s court, but I’m having trouble seeing an open-and-shut case here. > [@cmyk](#): > > \ > > This isn’t frikkin’ Law & Order. Well, not yet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/256 "2012-08-09T06:21:17Z")
I wonder if Upstairs Neighbor is Shredder Guy, or SG’s little brother. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/257 "2012-08-09T06:39:48Z")
> [@Vita\_Beata](#): > > > [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > > > Have you even seen the neighbor? Are you sure it’s a guy? Perhaps your neighbor is some beautiful lonely coed who finds that battery power just isn’t enough to satiate her daily carnal needs, and she’s using your outlet to power her Kongster 4000 because she’d be too embarrassed to explain her outrageous power bill to her wealthy parents, who just happen to own the #1 internet gaming company/local micro-brewery/steakhouse on the planet. > > > > I don’t understand all of the beautiful coed hate. > > “Greetings, Lonely Coed. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Senor Beef, your neighborly energy provider.” > > Now Senor Beef is quite glad to have ignored all the advice for cord yanking, 220 zapping, authority calling. Plus, he already has a Porn Name. “Senor Beef and the Co-Ed Nympho”; I can see it now. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/258 "2012-08-09T07:21:36Z")
**SenorBeef** you are having to wait anyway - why not contact the police to see what they advise . I doubt they will berate you for wasting their precious time and I also doubt they will dash over to investigate. Most likely they will tell you the best procedure in these types of situations (which could be “don’t touch it” until the electricity company investigates or pull it out straight away, or something else). As for working out how much juice he is pulling - contact your electricity company as they will be a a hell of a lot more accurate than you can hope to be and happy to share the info. Anyway YMMV my gut says don’t touch anything that may be evidence. If your gut says otherwise do whatever you think best ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/259 "2012-08-09T12:32:34Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Okay, explain to me not only how the police or management or whoever is at work here is going to know precisely when I found out about this, and even if they do, how it’s going to spell my doom. Explain to me just how dumb I am and how this is going to **result in my likely gangrape by angry landscapers and eventual death.** The Senor Beef and Energy Seeking Co-ed Show just gets more live action ideas daily! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/260 "2012-08-09T12:36:15Z")
I subscribed to this thread a while ago just to follow along, but I can’t stand it anymore. I want to know what the neighbor is doing and what he has to say for himself! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690.md?page=14)