00:00Birmingham has recorded the highest number of confirmed gas and electricity thefts in the UK.
00:07That's according to data supplied by Crimestoppers.
00:10The charity said there were 1,008 confirmed cases across the Birmingham postcode area in 2025-26.
00:19That's more than three times the number recorded in, say, Coventry.
00:23Energy thefts can involve tampering with meters, bypassing them altogether or connecting directly to gas or electricity supplies.
00:33Crimestoppers says the practice can put lives at risk because unsafe alterations may lead to explosions or electrocution.
00:42Phil McCartney, head of safety at Cadent Gas, says some people underestimate the dangers involved.
00:49He says one method seen by engineers involves removing one meter and replacing it with another.
00:55In other cases, unsuitable materials such as hose pipes have been used to bridge parts of a gas supply.
01:03Crimestoppers says gas and electricity theft has risen by 23% over the past five years, with 82% of
01:11confirmed cases linked to domestic use.
01:14The charity has launched its unknown danger campaign to raise awareness and encourage people to report suspected energy theft.
01:23Crimestoppers says Birmingham's total was the highest recorded anywhere in the UK.
