School Bus Catalytic Converters Stolen From Illinois District

If this is a senior prank, it's a gutsy one.

Timing is everything, especially with criminals. We're already getting blasted with snow this week, forcing school districts into either Virtual Learning Days or closures.

Schools will already have to burn some of those days this week, but one Illinois school district in Joliet will have to use another E-Learning Day for a unique reason.

It is the Troy 30 C-School District, which is now in it's 2nd day of E-Learning this week after figuring out that 80% of their school bus fleet are missing their catalytic converters.

A press release from the school obtained by NBC Chicago said that the school district did work with other districts to secure buses and transportation to get the kids to school, but they were not able to get enough buses to fulfill their needs. 75% of the school's kids use bus transportation.

Certified replacement buses are on the way for the district, but they're not supposed to get here until the middle of the week. Which is when it's supposed to snow.

Meanwhile, the hunt is on for the suspects. The district is working with the Joliet Police Department and the Tri County Auto Theft Task Force. They're thinking the thefts were Sunday night into Monday. Authorities think it's a "dark-colored SUV that passed the intersection of Riviera Blvd. and Leonard Drive between 3:00 a.m. and 3:15 a.m.".

In total, 30 catalytic converters were taken from the buses.

Not sure the thieves will get far. A new law in Illinois this year demands that car part recyclers have a certificate of title when selling things like catalytic converters.

The timing right before the snow couldn't be worse. Hopefully they catch them and the school gets the nice new buses.