A. It is unlawful for any person to adjust, connect, disconnect, molest, injure, destroy or in any way tamper with any water or gas pipe, any telephone pole or apparatus, meterloop, riser or connection belonging thereto, or any water, gas or electric meter or meter box or housing, or any pipe, wire, conduit or connection belonging thereto, or any other part of water, gas or electrical system, or to do any act or use any contrivance to prevent or affect correct and proper registration by any such meter. This shall not apply to officers and employees of the city or of any person, firm or corporation owning or operating such water, gas or electric system, acting in line of duty.
B. No person shall, without lawful authority, make any splice, tap or other connection into or on any cable, wire, pipe or other connection into or on any cable, wire, pipe or other service furnished to the residents of the city by the city or by any person, firm or corporation operating in the city under a valid permit issued by the city.
C. Any person who with intent to defraud, makes or causes to be made any pipe, wire, or other instrument or contrivance and connects the same or causes the same to be connected with any pipe provided for the purpose of conducting water or gas, or with any wire or other electrical conductor provided for the purpose of conducting electricity, so as to conduct such gas, water or electric current, to a point where the same may be consumed, without its passing through meters provided for registering the quantity consumed, or in any manner so as to evade payment therefor, whether the gas, water or electrical current is furnished through a meter or not, shall be guilty of an offense. Every person who, with like intent, injures or alters any gas, electric or water meter or obstructs its action, is guilty of an offense. (Prior Code, Chapter 14, as amended)