DOVER, Del. - Three out of eight Modern Maturity Center buses are back up and running after someone stole the catalytic converters from the buses on Monday.
With the help of Delaware Authority for Regional Transit, a local vendor and the community, Modern Maturity was able to get some of their buses repaired and back on the roads in the matter of days. DART had some extra converters on site and were able to repair the buses in a timely manner.
President and CEO of the Modern Maturity Center, Carolyn Fredrick, was so appreciative and grateful of the community for lending a hand.
"DART went above and beyond to get some buses back on the road for us," Fredrick said. "So, that's just commendable that they could do that for us. And then the communities support. I have had about seven or eight people who have walked in and said I can't believe someone did this to the Modern Maturity Center. I think its awful and here is money to help with your deductible."
"I have had people come in that ya know to give me a thousand dollars because ya know they feel so bad that this happened," Fredricks said.
The bus drivers at the center are also glad to be back up and running. Bus driver Maxie Moses said he was so happy to hear his bus was prepared and ready in less than 48 hours.
"You get a lot of hugs. They are just happy to see you. They kind of laugh, but they are just happy to see you that you are back on the bus and you're running again," Moses explained.
DART contracts out some of its buses and the Modern Maturity Center are recipients of eight of them. When DART was informed of the robbery, it immediately took action and offered a helping hand. The chief executive officer at DART, John Sisson, said DART was willing to help without hesitation.
"Modern maturity is a great organization and we're happy to try and help them out," Sisson said. "They do a great service so were all in this together transporting people."
Police tell WBOC there are no new developments or updates on the case.