Gwinnett Daily Post

DULUTH -- A Duluth man was arrested Wednesday after officials said he twice used a stolen gas meter to illegally connect service to his apartment, creating leaks and posing a "true danger" to his neighbors.Gwinnett County fire department spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said investigators hit 41-year-old Bobby Vincent Jones with eight separate charges (two felonies) after discovering the situation that began last month at his apartment on Arbor Drive.

On Sept. 6, representatives from Atlanta Gas Light were checking on a complaint of a gas leak at Jones' apartment building when they "discovered a stolen meter placed on an individual apartment where gas service had previously been terminated." The meter, which was the source of the leak, was illegally installed in Jones' unit, Rutledge said.

Three days later, officials said a follow-up visit revealed that Jones had hooked up a second stolen meter to his apartment, and that too was the source of a leak.

"The leak posed a true danger to residents of the building and the surrounding apartment community," Rutledge said.

Jones reportedly admitted to the crimes, and was charged with two counts apiece of the following crimes: first-degree criminal damage to property, theft by receiving, interfering with a public utility and theft of services.

Jones had not posted $19,200 bond late Wednesday.