LUCKNOW, Jan. 1 -- A spate of copper thefts from transformers in different parts of the city has raised concerns over the safety of power infrastructure and the growing audacity of organised gangs. The latest incident surfaced in Salempur Pataura area of Dubagga division on Wednesday, where thieves dismantled a transformer and decamped with valuable copper material and oil. The incident came to light after routine inspection revealed tampering with the equipment. Following the information, police teams reached the spot and initiated an investigation. Sub-inspector Shailendra Gupta, in-charge of the Samda police outpost, conducted a preliminary site inspection. The area falls under the jurisdiction of junior engineer RK Chaudhary. The incident follows a similar and more daring theft reported on December 25 night at Pawan Vihar, supplied electricity by the Daudnagar power substation. Thieves targeted a newly installed 250 kVA transformer, stripping it of copper binding and oil shortly after it was commissioned. According to officials, the theft occurred around midnight when the Mama Colony feeder suddenly tripped. At the time, the disruption was treated as a routine technical fault and power supply was restored. The next morning, however, residents noticed signs of tampering at the transformer site. Junior engineer Aakarsh Srivastava, who inspected the unit, confirmed that despite the transformer being operational under "no-load" conditions, its internal components had been removed. A formal complaint was subsequently lodged at Madiaon police station against unknown persons. Power department officials believe that the repeated incidents point to the presence of an organised gang with technical knowledge of electrical equipment. The thieves appear to be exploiting night hours, low surveillance and delayed detection to carry out targeted thefts of copper, which fetches high prices in the scrap market. Police authorities stated that investigations are underway to identify the culprits and establish links between the recent incidents....