CONFLUENCE, Pa. - Two Somerset County men are charged with trying to steal live power lines that were still attached to a transformer and utility poles.

Police said Kevin Lee Lytle, 27, and Daniel Jay Basinger, 24, both of Confluence, were shocked during the theft attempt on May 3 in Lower Turkeyfoot Township.

Both were charged Wednesday, but only Basinger was well enough to attend his arraignment on the attempted theft charge.

Police say the incident disrupted power to area residences for about five hours. Penelec Power Co. owns the lines which suffered $1,500 damage.

The Associated Press could not immediately reach either man for comment.

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I bet that was an electrifying experience for them

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The thieves were all charged and ready to go but oh well.

Shocking. The stupidity of the two involved. Just get a freaking job!

I agree. They need to be grounded for what attempted to do.

As it happens, in our neck of the woods (also Pa.) the local electrical utility actually admitted that the only reason that they had kept a non-essential course of overhead wires/towers electrified, despite its lack of use, was to deter thieves.

Alas, one is not permitted to lay potentially lethal "traps" to deter or prevent criminals and crime. (For example, rigging a 12g shotgun to shoot someone who has broken through a door is a no-no.)
Thus, our local utility had to pay personal injury damages to two who admitted that they had been burned half to death while trying to steal the copper from the wires.

On the other side of the world, virtually the entire electrical infrastructure of rural Russia was stolen during the 90's.

Wacky world.

D