Found out previous owner was stealing electricity. Do I have a responsibility to tell the authorities?

Question

I purchased an investment property in Baltimore, MD. Once the tenants moved out, it was discovered that they were stealing electricity. There was a meter on the house either. Should I report the previous owner? If so, how and to who? Or should I simply deal with it?

Wow! Great answers! Because these people were also growing weed in the back yard, I had to call the police. I told the police about the theft of electricity and he just chuckled. He didn't take any interest... I called BGE and they told me to apply for a meter with a "New Build" application. I'm at a lost...

There was no meter on the house.

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Answer 1

If there is a meter, you will likely be charged for the amount used, as the Electric Co will not turn on the power again at that address until it is. If the meter is bypassed completely, or not there then you stand to be charged criminally for it, and could lose the house to confiscation.

Similarly if they were using the property to grow weed and you had knowledge of it. Some jurisdictions are more abusive of this law than others, and if you have the right political connections you might be immune, but otherwise you do not have a choice, no matter your preferences.

Answer 2

Actually, without a meter on the house you will need to contact the Electric Company to get a meter installed.
Therefore, you really have not choice but to call them and report it to them..

When you call, tell them that you just discovered that there was no meter and you want them to install one -- in cooperation with your electrician (usually they only install a meter in a box you install on the house).

They will probably begin an investigation about the lack of a meter. If they ask you cooperate with their investigation. Be sure to have a copies of the former tenant's lease that indicate that the Tenant was responsible for the electric charges to prove that you had no responsibility. I would also have copies of your purchase agreement/closing documents from when you purchased the house ready to show that you bought it with the tenants in the house so you had no reason to know.

Answer 3

Not sure how you can deal with this without calling the electric company. I know where I live, you would have to call the electric company to get this straightened out. Besides, if you don't get this fixed, you could be charged with theft yourself. I have a friend that works for the gas company in the fraud division. He said there is a limit to the amout that the gas company can collect in this situation. The reason is that the company is responsible for maitaining the meters, and as such they should be checked on a regular basis. Charges would only go back to when the last checkup should have been done.

Answer 4

No. There is no law anywhere requiring a citizen to call the police and report a crime (unless you're a doctor or a teacher suspecting child abuse, but those are rare exceptions). But if there's currently no meter on your house, then you better call the power company and get one installed because otherwise you yourself would be stealing electricity. It's really the homeowner's responsibility to check the wiring when he buys the house and notice this sort of thing. I wouldn't bother going out of my way to turn in the previous owner since the power company is such a bunch of crooks anyway, but if the police ask then you should cooperate with them to avoid the possible risk of being charged with obstruction.

Answer 5

There was a meter on the house either

Do you mean there is no meter?

You will need a meter to turn on the power. You should report it if they were directly connected to the pole. Dangerous without a transformer. You may be accused.
Don't know how you can just "deal with it".
Usually this is discovered by the power used through the system.

Answer 6

The dog is legally the new owners' dog. The previous owners have no claim to the dog they haven't had for that long of a time. New owners went through the process of adopting a dog through a legitimate shelter. If the previous owners take issue, they need to take it up with the shelter, not the new owners.

Answer 7

previous owner stealing electricity responsibility authorities

Answer 8

You cannot do electrical work without the permit. If you don't report it to the police, or to the hydro company, your electrician will be obligated to report it anyway. Also, If you don't, you stand to be accused of setting up the theft of electricity yourself.

And that doesn't even take into account the fact that electricity theft costs everybody, including you.

Answer 9

Hmmm....good ethical question.

I would say it depends on what you feel you should do. I personally would not report them. I'd fix the meter issue and continue about my business but that may not be the route you take.

In all honesty, whatever you feel comfortable with.

Actually, yeah! Report them. You are going to have to fix the meter beucase they screwed up.

Answer 10

WOW that's smart wish I knew how to get free electric lol--seriously, it's up to you I personally wouldn't. there are a lot of people that aren't making it and can't afford to supply the basics for their families these days, not that it makes it legal or justifies it, but what will you gain from that? It's your decision, but if you're not being held liable or caught up in it, I would stay out. Best of luck to you.