Dec 20, 2007 12:00 pm US/Eastern
Mass. Senior Allegedly Steals $50K In Natural Gas
BOSTON (CBS) ―
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A Massachusetts man will go to court for allegedly stealing natural gas from the local utility. (File)
CBS4
An elderly Massachusetts man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of gas for his apartment building, according to Attorney General Martha Coakley.
Anthony Paone Sr., 85, of Winchester, Mass., allegedly used an illegally installed bypass valve to steal $50,000 worth of natural gas from Jan. 1, 2002 to April 2007 for his 50-unit building, reports CBS station WBZ-TV in Boston.
Utility provider KeySpan Corp. began its investigation after receiving an anonymous letter in 2005, according to the attorney general's office. When the company paid a visit to the building, they were unable to find the illegal bypass valve mentioned in the tipster's letter.
Two years later, the attorney general's office began their investigation when KeySpan received additional information, including detailed sketches of the bypass valve's location.
According to the attorney general's office, officials issued a search warrant, and the illegal valve was located. Investigators determined natural gas was being diverted via the bypass valve.
Officials believe Paone installed the valve as a way to get around the KeySpan meter - allowing him to receive unmetered gas for free for years.
Paone is charged with larceny over $250 and interference with a gas meter. He will be arraigned at a later date.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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