Facing Disconnect, Resident Locks City Out of Meter Box

A La Grange resident facing a utility disconnect allegedly tried locking City workers out the meter box. Now the resident could wind up with a criminal charge in addition to the utility bill.

According to a La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath, the La Grange Utility Department called police on Sept. 17 to report the incident. Gilbreath said the City was about to turn off the resident’s electricity for nonpayment. When utility workers arrived at the house, they discovered that the resident put a lock on the meter box to keep the City from disconnecting the power.

The City eventually cut the lock off the box.

Gilbreath said the resident could face criminal charges for theft of service.