Chicago’s West Side Woman Charged with Bold School Bus Theft, Police Reveal

A woman found herself in hot water after allegedly pilfering a school bus in the Homan Square neighbourhood on Tuesday morning.

Noelia Gutierrez, a 31-year-old resident of Justice, Illinois, faced the music as she was arrested and slapped with multiple charges. She was charged with one felony count of possessing a stolen vehicle, alongside two misdemeanour counts of driving on a suspended license and leaving the scene. Additionally, she received two citations for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and making an improper right turn.

According to police reports, the incident unfolded around 11:37 a.m. when Gutierrez purportedly entered an unoccupied school bus parked in the 3600 block of West Harrison Street without permission. In a brazen move, she then fled the scene, leading to a dramatic pursuit.

The stolen bus careened into a fence in the 700 block of South Central Park Avenue before Gutierrez continued her escapade. However, her joyride was short-lived as vigilant officers swiftly located the bus, initiated a traffic stop, and took Gutierrez into custody without any resistance.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Gutierrez was slated to appear at a detention hearing on Wednesday to face the consequences of her actions.