One way to reap new dollars fast is to crack down on service theft. In fact, a TDR can pay for itself in a short time by helping you to detect illegal cable hookups. Today, many cable companies are making a concentrated effort to curb the theft of their cable TV service. By employing teams of technicians, investigators and lawyers, cable systems are having a significant impact on this widespread problem. The primary goal in detecting illegal service is to convert the thief into a paying customer.
Some systems even give bonuses for the number of suspected thieves that ultimately are converted.
If a customer refuses to pay and continually is caught stealing service, you may need to prosecute. If this is the case, a TDR can provide useful evidence to back your claim. Although it may be blatantly obvious if someone is connected illegally, thieves may still claim they were not using the service. Theoretically, this could be true if the cable were just lying on the floor inside the residence and not connected to any device. However, if you can prove that there is a device connected inside the residence, most courts will prosecute.