THERE’S BEEN AN increase in people tampering with gas meters with people going door-to-door offering to do so according to Bord Gáis Networks.
The company say that since they began tracking the criminal offence of gas meter tampering in September 2013 they have detected over 500 cases.
They are warning people about the dangers of the practice saying that those who do so could not only break the meter but could also cause further damage leading to a gas leak.
Gardaí have previously warned that gas meter tampering has the potential to lead to explosions and a ‘potential catastrophe’. Bord Gáis Networks have said that no such incident has happened yet in Ireland
Bord Gáis Networks have begun a new campaign to not only discourage people from tampering with gas meters but to also report those who they believe are doing so.
A spokesperson for the company says they have heard of cases where people are calling to houses door-to-door and offering to “reduce people’s gas prices” by tampering with their gas meters.
The company adds that they know of one case where one such person had hundreds of people in an area on their books.
Three criminal convictions have taken place to date in Dublin with four more pending in Munster according to the company.
The company is asking the public to put ‘safety first’ and report any suspected gas meter tampering to 1850-200-694.
The phone number is not exclusively for reporting gas meter tampering and the company say that they undertake their own investigations before the gardaí may become involved.
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