Residents of New Castle County Delaware woke up Friday morning to bizarre news someone had stolen a bright yellow school bus overnight. The unoccupied Rohan Bus Service bus went missing around 9:50am from the Brookside Shopping Center leaving police scratching their head over the perpetrator motives. In this article we talk about School Bus Stolen in Delaware and What the Reason Behind the Bizarre Theft.
As of now the New Castle County Police Department has no suspects or leads in the puzzling theft. With no children on board at the time officials are hoping it was a teenage prank rather than something more sinister. However the fact that the bus has yet to be recovered raises some red flags. School buses contain sensitive information about routes and students that could be misused in the wrong hands.
Why Steal an Empty School Bus?
Authorities have not yet determined why the bus was stolen. Without clear motive or suspects speculation is running rampant amongst residents. Some possibilities include
- Joyriding: Perhaps local teenagers dared each other to go for a ride in the bus around town. However the risks seem to outweigh the thrills.
- Targeting the Bus Company: Rohan’s Bus Service may have enemies with a bone to pick. The theft could be personal.
- Scrapping it for Parts: School bus contain expensive heavy-duty parts like alternators and catalytic converters that fetch a high price as scrap metal.
- Human Trafficking Scheme: This is an ominous theory that hopefully proves false. An out-of-service school bus could transport captive victims quietly and attract little suspicion.
- Getaway Vehicle: The bus might be used later on to aid in a larger crime by helping culprits make their escape.
- Protest or Statement: Stealing the bus could also be someone misguided way of drawing attention to a cause or issue.
Where Could the Bus Be Now?
With few clues to go on the stolen school bus could essentially be anywhere. It might still be hidden locally in New Castle County or it may have been driven out of state by now. Places to be on the lookout include
- Nearby Towns: The bus might be stashed in a barn, garage, or other building in rural areas of Delaware or neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Maryland.
- Chop Shops: If stolen for scrap metal, the bus may have already been partially or totally dismantled by now.
- Public Parking Lots: Someone may have abandoned the bus after taking it on a short joyride. Check little-used parking garages and remote lots.
- National Forests: Rural wooded areas with access roads provide cover for suspicious vehicles.
- Shipping Yards & Warehouses: Plenty of space to hide something as big as a school bus exists in industrial zones and vacant buildings.
Police are warning people not to approach the bus if they see it and to contact authorities immediately. As the investigation continues, all eyes are on Delaware law enforcement to uncover the reason and perpetrator behind this bizarre crime. What started out as an average Friday morning has left parents, school officials, and an entire community full of questions. Here’s hoping they also find answers soon. I sincerely hope you find this “School Bus Stolen in Delaware- What the Reason Behind the Bizarre Theft?” article helpful.
Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.