A 500 kVA electricity transformer was dismantled and stripped of copper fittings at Mohali’s GMI Business Park in Sector 102A, Alpha, in an operation that police suspect lasted about two hours between 2am and 4am. The theft has prompted an investigation into how the equipment was accessed, dismantled and transported from the nearly 50-acre commercial site.
About 300 kg of copper fittings were allegedly stolen from the transformer, which had been installed on the premises for a commercial project. The thieves are suspected to have broken open the transformer at the site before removing the copper components. The incident came to light after the business park’s security officer, Harbans Singh, lodged a complaint with Mohali police.
The reported speed of the operation has become a central part of the investigation. Transformer manufacturers told The Times of India that dismantling a 500 kVA transformer would normally take at least eight to 10 hours. Police are examining how the suspects completed the work in a much shorter period and whether they had prior knowledge of the equipment and the site.
Sub-inspector Sandeep Singh inspected the location after the complaint was received. “The thieves broke open the transformer and stole its copper fittings. We have received the complaint and are in the process of registering an FIR. CCTV footage from various points is also being collected to identify and trace the suspects,” he said.
Investigators are also checking whether the power supply was disconnected before the transformer was opened. Establishing that sequence could help determine how the suspects handled the equipment and whether the theft involved specialised preparation. Police are reviewing CCTV footage from the business park and surrounding areas to identify movements before and after the incident.
The suspected quantity of stolen copper also indicates that the material may have required a vehicle for removal. Police are examining nearby footage for vehicles that entered or left the area during the suspected theft window and are seeking to establish the number of people involved.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of electrical equipment installed at large, developing commercial sites, particularly when premises are spread across substantial areas and construction or development activity is still pending. In this case, the police investigation will determine whether gaps in surveillance, access control or power isolation enabled the theft. The next steps are the registration of the FIR, collection of CCTV evidence and identification of the suspects.
