WDIV shines the light on the ongoing problem of people stealing electricity through illegal hookups in Detroit.
It's not a new problem, but it's an ongoing one.
Karen Drew of WDIV went around the city with DTE Chief Security Officer Michael Lynch, who found illegal hookups, which can result in fires.
In one instance, electricity was illegally hooked up at a vacant home on Canton Street which had not had a DTE customer there for three years, Lynch said. He said DTE had reports that someone had climbed the electrical pole and attached wires directly into the house.
On Yacama Road, retiree Willie Flint had no idea the house next door had illegally hooked up wires and was stealing electricity from his home.
What Flint did know was that his monthly electric bill was more expensive than it should have been. He said he was paying more than $200 a month.
WDIV also shows a Plymouth Road sports bar with an illegal connection.
