Electrician exposed for stealing power from neighbors in Tayport

In the small town of Tayport, Scotland, an extraordinarily daring incident involving electricity theft occurred. A 51-year-old electrician, Leslie Pirie, illegally drew electricity from his neighbors for over three years, causing losses estimated at around $5,000. The matter came to light when Hugh and Tracy Torrance realized their electricity bills were abnormally high.

According to British media sources, Pirie admitted to the electricity theft during the period from July 2017 to August 2020. However, the court in Dundee was relatively lenient with him, ordering the repayment of the stolen amount in monthly installments of $50, meaning the repayment will take over eight years.

How was the crime detected? Investigators, who were called in about the Torrance family's high bills, quickly determined that they were paying not only for their own electricity consumption but also for that used by their neighbour downstairs. It was found that the electrician living one floor below had constructed a complex system using a special device hidden behind a picture. This system, connected to the meter, allowed the redirection of electricity from the neighbor's apartment to his own.

This incident has severe repercussions for both the perpetrator and the victims. The Torrance family had to ask their teenage daughter to take up a job to pay the inflated bills. Speaking after the trial, Tracy Torrance did not hide her disappointment with the neighbor. "We thought he was a decent, quiet, nice guy. I am disappointed," she commented.