A school has forgiven thieves who stole their “Bertie Bus” minibus, later abandoning it minus an engine, gear-stick and 15 new boxed booster seats.
While the vehicle provided a vital lifeline for children to have school trips and the theft has caused damage and upset, Glazebury Church of England Primary School and Nursery has decided to forgive those responsible.
Last Friday evening around 7.25pm the mini-bus was reversed through the school gates, a man white, around aged 30, with stubble and wearing a hat was spotted driving the vehicle, as they reversed onto the road and scraped up the side of a resident’s car on Hurst lane.
At 7.30 pm they were spotted running a red light at the Pennington bypass and heading towards Lowton/Golborne. The images were captured on CCTV and there were two people.
School spokesperson Kathryn Holcroft said: “As the residents reported this so quickly to the Police, many people were alerted on social media and have been looking to try and find the school’s “Bertie Bus”, especially as they know this is not just a minibus to us, it is a vital lifeline for children to have trips.
“We had just purchased 15 new and boxed booster seats and these were in the back, they are also missing. Yesterday at 7.35 am it was spotted by a number of wonderful people who alerted school and in turn, we informed the police. Unfortunately, they have left the bus with no engine, no booster seats, and the gear stick is also gone. We also have to replace our school gates as although they close, they are bent.
Kathryn added: “Our children were as you can imagine really upset and we have talked about how the people who stole our bus didn’t think about how their unkindness impacts on others. Our Christian value is compassion and we don’t want to feel angry inside so we are going to let go of this feeling and forgive.
“One little boy on hearing our sad news said: ‘We are so kind, if they had asked to use our bus, we would have let them.’ I think that says it all really,” added Kathryn.
