Woman Accused of Stealing Electricity

(Alamance County, North Carolina) A 27-year-old local woman, Stacy Jean Kidd, has been accused of stealing more than $3,900 of electricity by tapping a utility service pole.

Kidd faces a charge of obtaining property by false pretense.

Deputies said they received a complaint from Randolph Electric Membership Cooperative that a technician had spotted a meter device from another company illegally installed on the pole.

An acquaintance who lives with Kidd, Robert Franklin Neese, 42, is sought by police as a suspect on similar charges.

Interestingly, since the technician saw "a meter device from another company illegally installed," could it be possible that the other company was being paid for the electricity?

Frankly, I have questions since I don't think the average member of the public has the nerve nor the knowledge to climb up a power pole and tap into an energized power cable without being electrocuted.