Two men charged in attempted power line theft

I’m half-convinced that this is actually some sort of an Onion-type story that slipped past the Associated Press editors...

CONFLUENCE, Pa. (AP) – Two Somerset County men are charged with trying to steal live power lines that were still attached to 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 $1500 damage.

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

Yeah, I imagine that after being shocked by a power line, these guys would be a little hesitant to put telephones near their faces.

Found via KATU News