(Wanatah, IN) - The ongoing spree of catalytic converter thefts across the county now involves a local school bus and costs a local school system $3,600 to replace. 

 

According to La Porte County Police, officers were called to Wanatah school on February 23. Principal Brian McMahan stated that the school bus was parked in the back of the lot on the west side of the building and was last driven on February 16.

 

The exhaust system on the bus was unusually loud when it was started and was taken to a repair shop where the mechanic discovered the catalytic converter had been cut from the exhaust system.

 

A check of the school surveillance system shows a dark passenger car pulled up next to the bus just after 9 a.m. on Sunday and left about 10 minutes later.

 

Police were not able to tell if anyone stepped out of the car due to the camera being too far away and the poor quality of the video. It was also very difficult to tell the make or model of the vehicle.