Classes canceled at Bourbonnais Elementary after school bus catalytic converter theft, according to District #53

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,” a Superintendent Adam Ehrman said.

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 looks like between 2:30 and 4 a.m, at least three people cut through the fence of the property and snuck out of range from the cameras,” Chief Anderson said.

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

“There are three different types of precious metals in these catalytic converters and that’s what they are trying to get,” he explained. “Once they cut off the catalytic converters they tear that apart and take it to a junkyard to turn in and get the money for the metal.”

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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