Electrical theft is coming, are you prepared?

I've been declaring this for the past two years but I think it's time I go on record. Within the next three years, give or take a year, we are going to have a problem with electrical theft in our country. I'm not talking about black ski mask over the head, sneak around with a flashlight in the dark theft. No, I'm talking about "borrowing" a little juice from your neighbor or place of employment when they're not looking.

I say this because plug-in hybrid automobiles are just around the corner. Toyota has plans to release the plug-in version of their Prius model hybrid in 2010 and I'm sure several other automobile manufacturers will quickly follow. In order to fully charge the batteries in these new hybrids, they will need to be regularly plugged in to an electrical outlet.

Which brings me to my prediction. How long do you think it will take someone to figure out that they can save a few bucks a day if they charge their plug-in hybrid at work on the company's dime or on their neighbor's dime when they are taking that vacation to Disney World?

Just look around you

Take a look around you. There are publicly accessible electrical outlets all around you. Whether they are for maintenance crews at an office complex or for Christmas lights on your neighbor's home, they're everywhere. Now imagine how easy it would be for someone to carry around an "extra" extension cable in their plug-in hybrid just for those occasional free-of-charge charging opportunities.

If you don't believe me, take a look around your office. How many employees have their personal iPod, cell phone or PDA plugged in at work? Or head to your local coffee shop or bakery and watch to see how the early birds with their laptops fight for the one or two tables located next to an electrical outlet.

Consider me on the record. You heard it here first.