NEW ORLEANS – (WGNO)- Three bus routes for two Algiers Charter schools were delayed Tuesday morning because of a break in at the First Student School Bus company’s bus barn on 17000 Chef Highway near Bayou Sauvage.
Police say 38 batteries were stolen from 20 buses, delaying service to Algiers Technology and Mcdonough 32.
The First Student School Bus company says their facility is secured, but when drivers started arriving around 5 A.M., they had problems starting the buses. Then they realized the batteries were missing.
Algiers Charter was notified immediately, and the company ended up doubling up routes to cover for the affected routes. The schools put out a message to parents and the media, since some students were already at their stops. Algiers Charter reps told me that all the students have been picked up, but some of the buses did arrive late.
The company did not want to give a specific number but says those batteries cost hundreds of dollars each.
Police said there is no video surveillance system at the business so no video is available.
