Gas meter theft leaves Elgin family in the cold

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Updated: February 26, 2012 8:14AM

An Elgin family told police they began feeling more and more chilly between 11 p.m. Sunday and 1:30 a.m. Monday.

Finally looking outside, they discovered someone had stolen the entire gas meter serving their single-family home in the 700 block of East Chicago Street, interrupting the fuel supply to their furnace.

The family said that during the past week, someone also had turned off their gas line at the meter and had tampered with the home’s electrical box.

Police said they asked Nicor Gas to replace the meter, and they tried to question someone with whom the family is involved in a legal dispute involving the house.