The district decided to go remote for at least that day.
Many types of car theft impact drivers all over the world. However, the desire to steal a catalytic converter seems to be strong with some, as they are worth a pretty penny. Most thieves that go after these target personal vehicles, but one school district recently became a victim as someone looking to make a quick buck went after school buses.
These thieves didn’t steal a catalytic converter… instead, they stole several and forced school closures
For some, it’s pretty easy to steal a catalytic converter. Some thieves have mastered the science of cutting off these all-important devices from cars. According to KGET, this happened to the Troy 30-C School District in Will County, Illinois. Notably, this district has schools in Joliet, Plainfield, and Shorewood, which is a ton of ground for school bus drivers to cover.
As mentioned, the thieves didn’t simply steal one catalytic converter. Instead, the school district says 90 percent of its buses were targeted. However, they later lowered that amount and said it was 80%. The report says that officials think this happened on the morning of February 10th and that the suspects were in a “dark-colored SUV.” They were able to spot the SUV via traffic cams at an intersection near where the buses are stored between 3:00 am and 3:15 am.
As a result of the catalytic converter theft, the district moved to online classes for the day. It’s unclear how long the school district will take to have suitable buses. Local law enforcement is investigating the situation to track the suspects. Of course, this form of car theft is a challenge for the district, especially with having to navigate budget constraints.
