Water theft on the rise

As the California drought continues, water is becoming more and more of a scarce commodity. Residents in the Central Valley, the hardest hit area in the state, are now taking things into their own hands. Some are beginning to steal water from their neighbors. To try and combat the problem, homeowners have begun purchasing locks that go on outdoor spigots.

“The water consumption this year is a lot worse than it’s ever been,” Fresno Ag Hardware Manager Kevin Seubert told ABC 30.

According to Suebert his store has seen an increase in people purchasing the locks. Just in the last month, sales have tripled on the locks. The store has had to reach out to another manufacturer to keep up with supply demands.

“Anytime an item becomes precious or scare inevitably there becomes a black market for it,” City councilman Clint Olivier told ABC 30.