Ludhiana, Punjab, is experiencing a troubling surge in transformer thefts, with 1,885 transformers rendered inoperative due to thefts as of December 2025, compared to 1,176 during the same period last year. This increase has led to significant disruptions in power supply, affecting residential, rural, and industrial areas. The financial loss from these incidents has climbed to ₹814.72 lakh (approximately $980,000 USD). The thefts are believed to be part of a coordinated effort by an organized scrap network targeting valuable components such as copper windings and coils. Senior officials from the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) have reported that 609 theft cases occurred in the latest quarter alone, up from 358 in the same period last year, indicating a more aggressive targeting of vulnerable installations. Despite filing FIRs for each theft, police investigations have yet to yield any arrests, raising concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement in addressing this issue. PSPCL officials emphasize that the thefts are facilitated by a ready market for stolen materials, particularly in the scrap trade, and call for police action to uncover the end buyers involved in this racket.