Tough economic times often bring an incentive to steal cable service, especially when being given the name and number of a “connection” that can hook you up for service priced at almost $75 a month for a one-time fee of $50-75 dollars.

Time Warner Cable, among other Cleveland-area utilities, were on the hunt for one alleged under-the-table installer — Eddie Hunt — for nearly a year.

Last Wednesday, a sting paid off.

“He’s kind of known as the hook-up man. If you want to go the black market route and risk getting in trouble, he’s the man, ” Time Warner Security Director Kevin Pratt told Cleveland TV station WKYC.

Hunt is certainly qualified to install cable — he’s been allegedly fired twice from his last two jobs working for cable companies.

Hunt allegedly charged local residents a “one time” fee for unlimited cable, until security measures cut the free service off.  Time Warner claims Hunt would then be back for more money to restore the service.

Time Warner Cable surveillance video shows Hunt accepting money for an illegal cable hookup — video later partly shown by WKYC News.

Hunt was arrested by local authorities.  Time Warner Cable says it will run an amnesty program for those with illicit cable hookups, allowing them to become paying customers without legal penalties.  But the cable company says it will give only one warning before they would move to have customers prosecuted for cable theft.

Cable companies estimate at least 14 percent of their “customers” aren’t paying for cable service.  The industry claims this hurts local communities through reduced franchise fee payments and raises prices for everyone else.

“It costs you and me, the government and everybody,” said Pratt. “It’s definitely not a victimless crime.”

[flv width=”480″ height=”288″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WKYC Cleveland Garfield Heights Sting nabs alleged cable TV pirate 7-1-11.flv[/flv]

WKYC-TV ran this exclusive story on Eddie “The Hookup Man” Hunt, alleged to be responsible for cable and other utility theft in the Cleveland, Ohio area.  (3 minutes)