Five Local School Buses Stolen This Year

Everyone expects sports cars to be stolen, but sometimes thieves have more unusual targets in mind.

St. Louis County police are investigating the theft of five school buses that have disappeared from the Affton area in the latter half of this year.

Four of those buses were stolen from a First Student lot at 10400 Tesshire Dr. in Affton. provides busing for several local school districts.

“If I knew how they got them, I would know what steps to take to stop them,” First Student location manager Katrina Davis said. “We are totally at a loss.”

The first theft was reported . It was followed by further thefts reported on , and . Davis said this year’s thefts were the first the lot had experienced.

Then on Dec. 5, yet another bus from , 9515 Tesson Ferry Rd.

Officer Dave Sebek of the St. Louis County police said the string of thefts was highly unusual. But the motive for stealing a school bus is likely very conventional: profit.

“Buses are just like cars, depending on the year and the mileage, they can be worth as little as just a couple thousand dollars up to $89,000,” Davis said.

However, selling a stolen bus or chopping it down for parts is likely considerably more challenging than profiting from a stolen car.