‘Caught on camera:’ Calgary bus company owner fed up after brazen catalytic converter theft
Posted Jun 24, 2026 7:30 am.
For years, the owner of Dreams Transportation in Calgary, Will Garth, has battled catalytic converter thieves. But in mid-June, the situation hit a breaking point.
“Right in the daylight with all the people around ya, it’s a daunting kind of thing,” he told CityNews.
At around 10:20 a.m. on June 15, one of the company’s drivers was parked in a busy northeast Calgary lot between runs, sitting in the back of her bus reading.
She heard a noise and assumed someone nearby was inflating a tire. Moments later, she heard movement directly underneath the bus. She jumped up to have a look.
“One lady as a decoy in front on her cellphone, the other gentleman underneath made the two cuts, and away they go,” Garth said.
“As soon as the driver noticed the lady, she yelled ‘Hey,’ and the lady yelled ‘Police,’ which must have been their code word to get going.”
The pair then tossed the catalytic converter into a waiting vehicle and sped away, all happening in broad daylight — marking the third catalytic converter stolen off a Dreams Transportation bus all in the same day.
“She doesn’t even want to be on camera to tell the story … she feels threatened by the fact it was the middle of that day that these people were that desperate to do something like that,” Garth said.
Dreams Transportation says approximately 120 catalytic converters have been stolen from its buses over the years — buses used to transport children with disabilities to their school programs and the children’s hospital — costing the company thousands of dollars.
The company has turned over surveillance footage to Calgary police. The suspect vehicle is described as a white Honda CR-V with Alberta licence plate CYT-3101.
Garth just hopes the suspects have a change of heart.
“That would be great, I hope that comes true or that even the police find them and just make it right,” he said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Calgary police, who say their investigation is in its early stages, at 403-266-1234. You can also leave an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
