I actually think that a lot of the problem is the fact that "cable theft" is a class of crime all on its own!
"Sometimes, operators turn on a signal by accident or forget to deactivate it after a tenant stops a cable subscription. People are liable for any services they use in this way and it is generally advisable to contact the cable company to report an unexpected cable signal"
"Sometimes, operators turn on a signal by accident or forget to deactivate it after a tenant stops a cable subscription. People are liable for any services they use in this way and it is generally advisable to contact the cable company to report an unexpected cable signal"
https://www.mylawquestions.com/what-is-cable-theft.htm
That's absurd, it can only be the result of corruption.