Man accused of stealing 21.5 million gallons of water from city
The owner of a mobile home park is facing charges for stealing more than 21.5 million gallons of water.
Police say Michael Friederick, 56, stole nearly $177,000 worth of water from the city of Dubuque during a four year period.
Prosecutors have charged him with first degree theft and ongoing criminal conduct. Police say Friederick stole this water as the owner of Table Mound Trailer Park. That's on the southern edge of Dubuque.
They say he would get into a pit that houses the park's water meters and access valve. Investigators believe several times from April 2012 to June of last year he opened a bypass valve. That way he was able to create fake low water readings.
The 21.5 million gallons they believe he took is equivalent to about what 195 families would use in one year.
