Vandals tore through a school bus yard on Chicago's West Side this week, leaving at least 33 buses damaged and dozens of students' rides sidelined, according to drivers. The hit was discovered Wednesday morning in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood, where staff found catalytic converters cut from rows of buses. One driver for Student First Inc. said her personal car, parked in the same lot, was also targeted.
Chicago police confirmed that 33 buses were damaged in the 4100 block of West Chicago Avenue on Wednesday, according to CBS News Chicago. Drivers told the outlet thieves sliced off catalytic converters and left the buses inoperable. "Same on you, it could be your children that don't have a way to school," one Student First Inc. driver told CBS News Chicago.
Part Of A Growing School Bus Crime Spree
The West Side vandalism slots into a widening pattern of bus yard thefts that have hit school fleets across northeastern Illinois in recent months. Bourbonnais Elementary District 53 was forced to cancel classes after thieves stripped catalytic converters from its buses, and nearby districts have reported similar, large-scale incidents that disrupted routes, according to ABC7 Chicago. School leaders say the crimes are spreading quickly in part because many bus yards operate with minimal perimeter security.
Why Catalytic Converters Are A Prime Target
Investigators say school buses are especially attractive to thieves because their catalytic converters tend to hold more precious metals and are relatively easy to cut free. Police sources told CBS News Chicago that a single bus converter can bring in "a few hundred dollars to $1,000" at scrap yards. When dozens are stolen in one hit, replacement costs can quickly soar into six figures. In one suburban case, officials pegged the repair bill at about $187,000, a blow that can strain smaller districts' transportation budgets.
Police, Schools And Neighbors Call For Backup
Chicago police say they are investigating the latest West Side incident and are asking drivers and nearby residents to review any surveillance footage and report potential leads. Neighbors and district officials have pushed for stronger yard security after past thefts, including calls to reposition or upgrade cameras and fix broken fencing, according to ABC7 Chicago. In previous cases, transportation directors and multi-agency task forces have turned to drone footage and shared intelligence to chase suspects, though prosecutions in larger, coordinated theft rings have been uneven.
For now, drivers and districts are tallying the damage, ordering parts and scrambling to reorganize routes while families wait for updated bus schedules. Anyone with information about the West Side theft is urged to contact Chicago police or submit tips through the department's tip line.
