Maine Man Used Jumper Cables to Steal CMP Service: Police

WALES, ME — A Maine man was arrested after stealing over $3,000 in electric service by attaching jumper cables to a utility pole, state police announced Tuesday. Nicholas Gagne, 36, was charged with theft.

"Gagne was climbing up the power pole outside of his house and connecting what amounted to jumper cable clamps to the transformer and then running a power line to the ground and then to his house," state police said in a statement.

Central Maine Power officials said workers disconnected service from his home three times but he kept reconnecting the rig. A CMP official "was impressed with the ingenuity" but emphasized it was "wildly dangerous," police said, as it presented fire and electrocution hazards for Gagne and the line workers.

State police said a trooper contacted Gagne after CMP reported his scheme.

"Gagne ... admitted to connecting the power to the residence," police said.

Police said Gagne could be charged with more crimes, including aggravated criminal mischief.

Photo: Nicholas Gagne and his jumper cable rig police said he used to illegally connect to the Central Maine Power grid. (Credit: Maine State Police)