Two Smithville residents arrested for stealing electricity
Steve Franklin Mabe Jr., 43, was arrested Friday for theft of services, vandalism, trespassing and reckless endangerment. Police were advised that Mabe had dug a ditch to his neighbor’s property and was stealing electricity from them. 
Upon arrival, police observed a trench that was dug approximately 30 feet onto the victim’s property and found a wire connected to the victim’s air conditioning unit’s electrical power which required the unit to be taken apart. 
Smithville Electric was notified and disconnected the wire from the air conditioning unit and pulled up the wire which led from the victim’s property into Mabe’s yard. Mabe did not have permission to be on his neighbor’s property or to dig a trench. Upon investigating, it was determined that Mabe did knowingly place the residents in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury by creating a fire hazard.  Bond was set at $12,500 and arraignment is slated for August 31.
Martha Conger Hale, 37, was also arrested on Friday for theft of services and vandalism. On July 28, Smithville Electric received an alarm that showed the meter at Hale’s residence had been pulled off of the electrical box.
Police were informed by Smithville Electric that the electrical meter box was bypassed with foreign wires not supplied or installed by the company and that Hale did vandalize the meter and did steal electricity. Warrants were taken and served at a later date. 
Bond was set at $5,500 with arraignment to be held August 31.