A Milton man had been unknowingly paying his neighbor’s natural gas bill, police said.
And the matter came to light during a fire at the theft suspect’s residence, according to a Milton police report.
An unauthorized gas line to the property at 14150 Hopewell Road was discovered in February, according to the police report. As a result, Charles Brent Boyd, the property owner, has been charged with theft of services, reckless conduct, and abuse of an elderly adult.
The Milton fire chief and an Atlanta Gas Light official noticed an open, leaking gas line when they inspected after the fire. They found that the open line was connected to a gas generator at a neighboring residence.
Also at the neighboring residence, the fire chief noticed a line from the gas meter to the gas generator, and an additional line off the gas generator. This line led to the fire-damaged building at 14150 Hopewell Road.
At the fire inspection, Boyd told the fire chief that he did not have any utilities running to his structure. Boyd then left the scene via the neighbor’s yard, and a few minutes later, the gas leak stopped. The officials then noted that the neighbor’s gas meter had been shut off. When they turned it on, the leak at 14150 resumed.
When the officials contacted the neighboring owner, he said he was not paying anyone for utilities other than the gas company. The neighbor also told the officials that Boyd had built the house and sold it to him last year.
Police have been unable to determine the volume or dollar amount of unauthorized gas that went to the suspect’s property.
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