#Bridgeport, CT – April 1, 2014 – A city woman faces a larceny charge in connection with the theft of electricity from United Illuminating Co.

Police arrested Tomeka Hudson, 37, of 480 Connecticut Ave. on a charge of third-degree larceny.

Detective Robert Martin was contacted last month by UI investigators on a report of utility theft.

He learned that Hudson had an outstanding balance of $3,091 with UI dating back to 2008 at a different location. He also learned that UI disconnected service to Hudson’s subsequent apartment in June 2011 for lack of payment. The service was under the name of Hudson’s boyfriend.

The theft was discovered in November 2013, when a UI meter technician inspected the meter and observed that it had been pried open and bypassed using jumper wires that connected to the electrical line and to load connectors behind the meter. That provided electricity to the unit that was unrecorded by the meter.

The technician disconnected the jumper wires and reported the situation to UI investigators. This month, a UI investigator contacted Martin about a possible additional theft. The investigator stated that she was informed that after UI disconnected the illegal connection in November, power was restored to Hudson’s apartment by tampering with the electrical equipment of another apartment.

Based on past usage, UI estimated Hudson received, without paying, $2,974 in electricity between June 2011 and November 2013. Hudson was arrested today.