A system for sensing wire tampering of a utility service, comprising: a flow meter configured to produce output pulses indicative of fluid flow through the utility service; a switching-element receiving the pulses from the flow meter; a diode in parallel with the switching-element; and a processor for recording the fluid flow, and having a first wire and a second wire electrically connected to the switching-element and the diode, wherein the processor is configured to: apply a forward voltage to the diode, detect a response at the diode during the application of the forward voltage to the diode, and based on a comparison of a magnitude of the response to at least two of three different electrical states, determine if the detected response is indicative of a) a short between the first wire and the second wire, b) a cut in either of the first wire and the second wire, or c) an untampered wire condition, wherein if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is approximately equal to the forward voltage, at least one of the first and second wires is open; if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is substantially zero and remains at substantially zero beyond a period of the output pulse from the flow meter, at least one of the first and second wires is shorted; and if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is greater than substantially zero and less than the forward voltage, the first and second wires are intact. a flow meter configured to produce output pulses indicative of fluid flow through the utility service; a switching-element receiving the pulses from the flow meter; a diode in parallel with the switching-element; and a processor for recording the fluid flow, and having a first wire and a second wire electrically connected to the switching-element and the diode, wherein the processor is configured to: apply a forward voltage to the diode, detect a response at the diode during the application of the forward voltage to the diode, and based on a comparison of a magnitude of the response to at least two of three different electrical states, determine if the detected response is indicative of a) a short between the first wire and the second wire, b) a cut in either of the first wire and the second wire, or c) an untampered wire condition, wherein if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is approximately equal to the forward voltage, at least one of the first and second wires is open; if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is substantially zero and remains at substantially zero beyond a period of the output pulse from the flow meter, at least one of the first and second wires is shorted; and if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is greater than substantially zero and less than the forward voltage, the first and second wires are intact. apply a forward voltage to the diode, detect a response at the diode during the application of the forward voltage to the diode, and based on a comparison of a magnitude of the response to at least two of three different electrical states, determine if the detected response is indicative of a) a short between the first wire and the second wire, b) a cut in either of the first wire and the second wire, or c) an untampered wire condition, wherein if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is approximately equal to the forward voltage, at least one of the first and second wires is open; if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is substantially zero and remains at substantially zero beyond a period of the output pulse from the flow meter, at least one of the first and second wires is shorted; and if the response at the switching-element during the application of the forward voltage is greater than substantially zero and less than the forward voltage, the first and second wires are intact.