I caught my neighbor using my electrical outlets outside, and I told him I was going to call the cops and tell them what he was doing.

He laughed and said I can’t prove it. What should I do?

As a master electrician, I solved my issue very easily. My (now ex) neighbor was using the outside outlet on my detached garage to build

his addition. I turned the breaker off - he turned it on. I asked him to stop and he did not.

I simply rewired the neutral on the 120 volt outlet to convert it to 240 volts, watched (and grinned) as he burned up his table saw, his

battery charger and a table router all within one day. He had no idea as to why.

If he has simply asked, as he should have, before using my power, I would probably have allowed it - as least for a reasonable amount of time.

EDIT 1: I have had some suggestions that I could get into trouble with my “fix”. I did disclose to the neighbor what I did a few days later

and he called the sheriff’s office. The deputy that came out listened to both sides and then asked ME if I wanted to charge the neighbor

with theft. I just let it drop and he moved out a short time later.

EDIT 2: I have had some people say that I should have put “warnings” on my answer about the possibility of fire and personal injury.

C’mon people! This is a REPLY to a post - NOT a TUTORIAL!!!

EDIT #3: I’m about ready to turn of comments! READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE YOU ASK THE SAME QUESIONS!!! Thank you!

EDIT #4: I have had to disable comments due to people doing edit 2 & 3 over and over. THANK YOU to all of you who upvoted this...