Police arrest 8 in transformer theft gang, seize 164 kg of aluminium wire

A major police operation in India’s Uttar Pradesh has exposed an inter-district network allegedly involved in stealing electricity transformers and selling their internal metal components, including aluminium wire and copper binding, to scrap dealers.

Police in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have busted an inter-district transformer theft gang and arrested eight people, including a scrap dealer accused of purchasing stolen materials. The operation led to the recovery of aluminium wire, copper binding, transformer coils and cash allegedly generated through the sale of stolen electrical components.

The gang reportedly operated across several districts, including Kanpur Dehat, Unnao, Lucknow and Fatehpur. A joint team comprising Chaubeypur police, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit and West Zone surveillance teams conducted the operation.

Police intercept Scorpio, recover stolen aluminium and copper

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a black Scorpio SUV carrying seven suspects. A subsequent search resulted in the recovery of eight bundles of aluminium wire weighing 164 kg, three coils of copper binding weighing 98 kg, three transformer coils and INR 68,000 in cash.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly told investigators that the recovered cash had been generated by selling internal components extracted from previously stolen electricity transformers. The investigation is linked to a theft case registered at Chaubeypur police station.

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Scrap dealer accused of purchasing stolen transformer components

Investigators identified Umesh Gupta, a scrap dealer, as the alleged buyer of the stolen materials. He was among those arrested in connection with the racket.

Police also seized the Scorpio SUV allegedly used in the thefts under Section 207 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The vehicle was registered to another accused, Ranjeet Srivastava.

The arrested individuals named by police include Ranjeet Srivastava (47), Umesh Gupta (35), Chandan (24), Alok Pandey (30), Devansh Dubey (20), Aditya Mishra (23) and Gautam Rajput, alias Thapa (31). All are residents of Kanpur, although some originally hail from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

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Investigation expands across multiple districts

According to police, the accused have criminal cases registered against them at various police stations across Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Unnao, Fatehpur and Lucknow. The cases include allegations involving theft and the purchase of stolen property.

Alok Pandey reportedly has the highest number of cases among the accused. Police are examining their criminal histories and investigating whether additional individuals were involved in the network.

All eight arrested individuals have been sent to judicial custody as the investigation continues.