Bourbonnais Elementary School District #53 Cancels Classes Due to School Bus Catalytic Converter Theft

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (WLS) — An elementary school in Bourbonnais canceled classes on Thursday after a fleet of school buses was vandalized.

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All of the buses’ catalytic converters were stolen overnight, District #53 said.

“This deliberate mechanical sabotage has deeply impacted our ability to safely transport students, and we are treating this situation with the utmost seriousness,” stated Superintendent Adam Ehrman.

Administrators said they were collaborating with neighboring school districts to temporarily borrow buses.

Bourbonnais police Chief David Anderson told ABC7 the lot has a gate and camera, however, video does not capture a full view of the lot.

“It appears that between 2:30 and 4 a.m., at least three individuals breached the property’s fence and managed to avoid detection by the surveillance cameras,” Chief Anderson reported.

Police are also taking a look at a trail of footprints left behind which extends from the fence to the parked buses.

“The catalytic converters contain three different precious metals, which is the target of these thefts,” he elucidated. “After removing the converters, they dismantle them and sell the metals at a scrapyard for profit.”

Classes are expected to resume on Friday.

Neighbors are urged to check their surveillance cameras and notify police if they witnessed anything.

In February, a Joliet school district was forced to move to e-learning after a rash of catalytic converter thefts also targeted their school buses.

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