# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/361 "2012-08-12T19:45:39Z")
Senor, why haven’t you talked to your neighbor yet? Seriously… Do so immediately and get back to us. Your report is due Monday noon, so get right on it. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/362 "2012-08-12T20:19:46Z")
> [@Jimson\_Jim](#): > > Not to be a kill joy but do you even know if the external outlet is on your bill? > > Everyone says trip that breaker but if this building was built as an apartment building then the external outlets should be on a separate external breaker that is not in your apartment. The external outlets along with external lights, hallway lights, signs, the central air and heat, washer, dryer and any low voltage items like locks and intercom will be in the circuit panel for the building itself. > > This wire maybe some kludge fix by building maintenance because the upstairs external outlet is nonfunctional. > > On the other hand if this is your neighbor helping himself to your power then call the electric company and demand a 50% refund for the past two years based on this theft. Let them sort it out. I think this is your best bet. Notify the landlord first and see what he says. He might even have given permission to your neighbor if the electricity is on the landlord’s bill. If you start breaking things, it could be charged back to you… It’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/363 "2012-08-12T21:12:00Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > I think this is your best bet. Notify the landlord first and see what he says. He might even have given permission to your neighbor if the electricity is on the landlord’s bill. If you start breaking things, it could be charged back to you… It’s the only way to be sure. RTFThread. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/364 "2012-08-12T23:51:29Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Too late! > > **SenorBeef** , your faithful subscribers are itching for an update. Come on, man, we’re in this together! 😃 What’s this “we” shit, Kemosabe? Speak for yourself. I’ve had my years-long feud with a crazy neighbor. Once was enough. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Whammo72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo72)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/365 "2012-08-13T00:29:37Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Implied Lisa? > > Or implode? Who implicated Lisa into this?!??! ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/366 "2012-08-13T02:06:41Z")
> [@Whammo72](#): > > Who implicated Lisa into this?!??! I imprecate him! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/367 "2012-08-13T02:40:45Z")
Stop impregnating Lisa and tell us what the neighbor says! ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/368 "2012-08-13T12:19:57Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > So the property manager said that we’d have to go to the power company and police to get the incident properly documented. At that point I pretty much had to. > > Power company said they didn’t care/had nothing to do with it, etc. Police stopped by and looked it over. The neighbors weren’t home so there was no one to talk to. They took a statement, took some pictures, and then took the cable and just yanked the thing like I was going to originally. Something went kerplunk upstairs. > > Now I’m waiting for the neighbors to come home and come down here and yelling me for having the audacity to remove their cable. Damn! I almost cancelled my weekend plans so I could see the outcome, and this is what happened? I was expecting SWAT teams and … J/K , Glad things worked out peacefully (so far) ---
**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 13, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/369 "2012-08-13T17:31:41Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Stop impregnating Lisa and tell us what the neighbor says! Two whole pages added to this thread over the weekend! Whoo hoo! Could your name in the porn show with Energy Seeking Co-Ed be “Randy”? “Senor Randy Beef”?? Please .. Pleeeease? ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/370 "2012-08-13T19:45:46Z")
This could end up being more exciting than the piggy in the crawlspace thread. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/371 "2012-08-14T02:15:35Z")
Does your meter record peak usage? That might tell if it’s an air con or something ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/372 "2012-08-14T03:43:18Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > This could end up being more exciting than the piggy in the crawlspace thread. Or the Cooler of Death. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/373 "2012-08-14T04:20:03Z")
God damn it! Why did I read this thread? Now I’m all invested with no resolution. ---
**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 14, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/374 "2012-08-14T05:52:47Z")
There was a piggy in the crawlspace? I go away for a couple of days, and look what happens around here! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/375 "2012-08-14T06:26:57Z")
I think this thread has run its course. But, I imagine there will be many more threads of hilarity courtesy of senorbeef in our future. senorbeef: holy cow guize my oven’s on fire. us: Have you tried putting it out? Or calling the fire department? senorbeef: no but I ordered a thermometer off the internet so I can find out how hot it’s getting because of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/376 "2012-08-14T06:31:03Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I think this thread has run its course. But, I imagine there will be many more threads of hilarity courtesy of senorbeef in our future. > > senorbeef: holy cow guize my oven’s on fire. > us: Have you tried putting it out? Or calling the fire department? > senorbeef: no but I ordered a thermometer off the internet so I can find out how hot it’s getting because of reasons. :p:p:p ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/377 "2012-08-14T06:56:04Z")
Yes, the $1.50 I lost by waiting was as evil as Hitler and as dumb as Palin. Catastrophic. My only option is ritualistic suicide. By not acting immediately, my neighbor is legally entitled to rape me and my entire family due to implied approval. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/378 "2012-08-14T07:02:33Z")
I don’t remember saying anything about hitler, palin or rape. Just that the only difference between my way and your way is apparently a resolution a week later and the cost of kill-a-watt thingie. If you’re ok with those sacrifices then who cares what I think. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/379 "2012-08-14T07:26:55Z")
You compared the dire situation of allowing $1.50 of electricity tone stolen with allowing a fire to burn my house down. Which is just another in a long line of ridiculous posts about how not acting immediately was the dumbest thing any human has ever done. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690/380 "2012-08-14T07:34:20Z")
Nonsense. Since you didn’t do anything, how could what you did be dumb? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-stealing-my-electricity-in-a-really-dumb-way/630690.md?page=20)