THE DANGERS of meter tampering have been highlighted following an incident in Balsall Common.
West Midlands Fire Service said it was called to a fire at the back of The Railway at around 8pm on January 16.
The service said the was fire involved two floors of a building with several storeys and a complex layout and there was no-one inside when crews arrived, and no reports of anyone being hurt.
Following investigation of the site West Midlands Police said: “A cannabis factory was discovered with plants across a number of rooms. We’re liaising with fire service investigators to establish the cause of the blaze.
“Enquiries are continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact us via Live Chat on our website, or call 101, and quote 5374 of January 16.”
Now Crimestoppers is warning residents of the risks of meter tampering.
The consequences of meter tampering are severe and in the most tragic cases, fatal.
An eight-year-old Harvey Tyrell died after being electrocuted in a pub garden where electrical systems had been illegally and dangerously altered. The pub owner was later jailed for nine years for manslaughter and stealing electricity, and his brother-in-law served one year in prison for unsafe electrical work.
Sandu Laureniu-Sava was electrocuted while showering in his Bethnal Green flat after the electricity meter had been illegally bypassed.
The building owner responsible was jailed for four years, fined £20,000, ordered to pay £20,000 compensation, and banned from being a company director for 10 years.
Stolen energy also creates a financial burden. The cost of recovered losses is redistributed across legitimate billpayers, increasing household bills at a time when many families are already struggling.
Crimestoppers’ Stay Energy Safe division said energy theft is on the rise across the UK, with a 75 per cent increase since 2012 and around £1.5 billion worth of gas and electricity stolen every year.
The division found that while energy theft happens for many reasons – from individuals bypassing meters to unsafe landlord practices – a growing share is now being linked to organised crime groups.
This escalation is putting households, neighbours and entire streets at risk of fires, gas leaks, electrocution and even fatalities.
A spokesperson for Stay Energy Safe said: “Energy theft happens for many different reasons – from individuals making dangerous decisions to landlords tampering with meters, and increasingly, organised criminal activity.
“But every instance carries serious risks.
“Whether it’s a bypassed meter, unusual wiring, or suspicious activity around a meter box or the mains service cables, we urge anyone with concerns to report it anonymously. You could be preventing a fire, protecting a neighbour or even saving a life.”
Anyone who suspects someone of tampering with their gas or electricity meter should contact Stay Energy Safe anonymously on 0800 023 2777 or report online here.
