Most cable technicians take a lot of pride in what they do. Over the next weeks Ill try and outline what I mean.

I think a general perception of the industry lately might show otherwise. Today Id like to share a little thing that gets under my skin like no other. Theft.

Now Im no goody two shoes. But Ive never really stolen anything in my life. I know there are those that steal cable, steal Dish back when it was trendy and were proud as hell doing it. They loved to show off their free services. Ive even had people tell me that they pirate cable when they find out what I do. And guess what? If I know where they live, it ends within the next few days.

I mean, come on, this is how I make my living? This is what I take pride in doing. This is how I pay the mortgage and bills. I always hear the same excuse as well. "Cable charges so much!! Its insane! Screw them! Im not paying for this crap!!"

But they sure will risk their life climbing a pole to activate services, they sure as hell will compromise their morals and values to skulk around at 2 am trying to defeat a anti theft device. Apparently it IS worth it? Apparently it IS a service that has a high enough value that stealing it is such a popular passtime.

In any event, below are a handful of pictures showing some pretty witless attempts at cable theft.. and one AMAZING attempt uncovered just the other day.

This video shows a resident who actualy electrical taped an inhouse cable line to his phone line, probably during construction. You would never notice two lines coming from the home. The only tell tale sign was obviously the off brand connector at the pole and the fact that its only a two port tap. Maybe on an 8 port that connector might not have been noticed, buried next to so many other connectors. I honestly didnt notice the connector even until I started taking the tap apart....

Are those surgical scissors holding the rigged line to the broken port?

Keep Trying! This derilect apparently kept breaking off the terminators trying to get an open port. New tap plate, all new terminators. What fun!

Remove tap plate, apply duct tape. Another spark of genious!

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