Classroom on Wheels buses hit by thieves

Investigators today were reviewing footage from surveillance cameras in hopes of finding the thieves that stole two television-VCR combinations, four stereos and padlocks from four Classroom on Wheels buses.

A maintenance supervisor noticed the break-in around 9:30 p.m. Sunday during a routine stop to refuel the buses, add fresh water and dump the toilets, said Louise Helton, Classroom on Wheels founder.

The buses were parked on the Community College of Southern Nevada's campus off West Charleston Boulevard and Torrey Pines Drive.

The non-profit, free preschool serves 414 at-risk and low income children in 23 neighborhoods throughout the Las Vegas area.

"We've never had anything like this happen. This has been one of the things the community has taken pride in and taken care of," Helton said. The first Classroom on Wheels bus began in 1992.

The buses, which are usually parked on the west end of the campus had been moved to a more remote area behind the campus about a month ago due to construction.

Helton said the college lets them park the buses on the campus for free. "What we really need is a place to put these things (the buses) with a fence," Helton said.

Angela Pernatozzi, executive director for Classroom on Wheels said the organization will have to look for contributions to replace the stolen materials.

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