LUCKNOW, Feb. 20 -- After a spate of transformer copper thefts, the Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA) has decided to tighten security by installing surveillance cameras and increasing night patrols at vulnerable substations.

At a meeting held at the Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (MVVNL) office on Friday, LESA chief engineers of all four zones resolved to step up surveillance around transformers, deploy additional night patrol staff and encourage citizens to report suspicious activity. The use of drones is also being considered, a chief engineer said.

The move follows four thefts in the past three months, the latest reported on Wednesday night (February 18) near the Shivpuri power house. Around 9 pm, thieves all...