Man faces charges after 'jump wire' discovered

WARREN — Gregory Vanek, 38, of Porter Street Northeast was charged Friday in Warren Municipal Court with petty theft and criminal damaging after authorities determined that he was receiving electricity illegally through a “jump wire.”

Police were called to his house Thursday afternoon and found a jump wire in the basement running into the house and into his fuse box.

Ohio Edison had disconnected the power to the home earlier, police said.

The Warren Fire Department disconnected the jump wire to make it safe, and a Warren electrical inspector supervised the repair of the electrical service.

Vanek has an address on Wetmore Avenue in Struthers.