Pricey Tuba Thefts Blamed On Popularity Of Mexican Banda Music

BELL (CBS) — Authorities say two marching band tubas were stolen from Bell High School over the weekend, the latest in a rash of thefts at area high schools.

Two King brass sousaphones valued at $6,000 each were the latest to be stolen in a series of high school thefts believed to be related to the popularity of Mexican banda music, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The thieves cut the locks on numerous metal lockers in the school's band room, apparently searching for the sousaphones. When they didn't find any, they broke into the band director's office, where the uniforms and tubas are stored under lock and key, the Times reported.

Two less-expensive fiberglass sousaphones and dozens of other instruments were left behind.

There have been burglaries at several other school over the last several months, in which only tubas were stolen. Sycamore Junior High School in Anaheim had all its band instruments stolen over the Christmas break, a loss valued at $25,000.

Instructors have connected the thefts to the popularity of banda, a dance music played with marching band instruments and anchored by tubas. The popularity of banda has skyrocketed the pay of tuba players, who make more than, sometimes double, what other banda musicians are paid, according to the Times.