As homeless encampments continue to grow in the Bay Area, so too are incidents of street light tampering where people plug illegally into power.
At one Oakland settlement, just because the residents are essentially living off the grid, it doesn't mean they're not getting electricity.
At this shantytown along East 12th Street and near the BART tracks, extension cords running from sidewalk electrical panels disappear into the maze of tents and shacks.
Wires run to full-sized refrigerators — some that are working, although food inside is rotting.
One woman at the encampment admitted she taps into the power source so she can have working lights in her area, but most residents there did not take responsibility for the makeshift setup.
All of this is illegal, it's also very hazardous. The city has cut power to some of the hacked street lights, affecting traffic safety.
"In my eyes, you do what you gotta do to survive out here," said Brent Ship, who is homeless. "It is dangerous. It is 220 volts. It will kill you in a heartbeat."