A system (with corresponding a method and computer program product) for sensing wire tampering of a utility service. The system comprises a flow meter configured to produce output pulses indicative of a flow through the utility service, a switching-element receiving the pulses from the flow meter, a diode in parallel with the switching-element, and a processor for recording the flow, and having a first wire and a second wire electrically connected to the switching-element and the diode. The processor is configured to apply a forward voltage to the diode, detect a response at the diode during the application of the forward voltage to the diode, and based on a comparison of a magnitude of the response to at least two of three different electrical states, determine if the detected response is indicative of a) a short between the first wire and the second wire, b) a cut in either of the first wire and the second wire, or c) an untampered wire condition.