A public utility theft in Yazoo City could have ended in tragedy had it not been for officials discovering the thievery.
Russ Carter, city building inspector, said the theft of electricity occurred on Charles Street with a man hooking directly to the power line from the transformer. The thief then ran an extension cord across the street into a house.
“This is a pretty serious thing,” Carter said. “Somebody could have got hurt very bad. This is a very serious situation, and I did inform the Public Service Commission that they needed to press charges to the fullest extent.”
Carter said he arrived at the scene at the same time as PSC officials. It was at that time that Carter said he noticed just how serious the situation was.
“The young man from PSC was getting ready to reach down and move the cord, but I stopped him,” Carter said. “I pulled my tester out, and when I tested the grass about two feet away from the cord, the grass was electrified.”
