Florida couple stole electricity with jumper cables, deputies say

Man says power used to take hot showers

phillip-parker,samantha-hatfield

SILVER SPRINGS, Fla. – A man and woman were arrested in Marion County on suspicion of using jumper cables to steal electricity from overhead power lines.

Phillip Coy Parker, 34, and Samantha Ashley Hatfield, 29, both of Silver Springs, were arrested on charges of theft of utilities, Marion County sheriff's deputies said on Thursday.

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According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, deputies received a tip about the theft at 1918 Northeast 125th Terrace Road in Silver Springs.

Deputies said investigators found jumper cables clamped at one end to the overhead electric power lines while the other end connected to the inside of an electric box at the house.  Investigators also discovered the meter box was empty, deputies said.

Hatfield, who's in a relationship with Parker, told detectives they had been without
power for a year, according to the Sheriff's Office.  

Deputies said Parker apparently created the illegal hookup about eight
months ago.

"We would hook (the electricity) up occasionally to take a hot shower," the Sheriff's Office quoted Parker as saying.

Ocala City Electric Company representatives say the estimated loss was valued at $1,274.


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