NUTLEY, NJ – Police in Nutley are on alert this morning after a school bus was stolen from a school bus yard in nearby Livingston.

“If your child uses a bus for transport, ensure it is the usual driver and has proper markings,” Nutley Police Director Alphonse Petracco said in a statement today.

The FBI is investigating the theft of a bus from one of their lots on Wednesday. That bus has not yet been recovered.

Several neighboring towns have gone on alert in case the suspect who stole the school bus attempts to pick up children in it. School officials are advising parents to be aware and observant and to report any suspicious activity to the local police departments.

“As of now it has not been recovered and remains under investigation. There is no specific threat however, anytime an incident like this occurs there is cause for concern,” said Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo. “Although this happened in Livingston we are advising our community to be aware, observant, and cautious of anything suspicious.”

Nutley Police have increased patrols near and around schools, including bus boarding locations and are working with the school district to ensure safety today.

The theft of the school bus highlights the uptick in stolen vehicles across New Jersey over the past two years.

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