California Schools Hit By Rash Of Tuba Thefts

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California high schools are losing some of their oom-pa.

Officials say a rash of recent burglaries has left them seeking a rare breed of criminal: tuba thieves.

South Gate High School music teacher Ruben Gonzalez Jr. told the Los Angeles Times for a Monday story that thieves broke into his band room and took only tubas, worth a total of $13,000.

Earlier at Compton's Centennial High thieves stole eight sousaphones — marching tubas worn over the shoulder.

And last week someone stole the final tuba at Huntington Park high. The other was stolen earlier in the year.

Teachers think the cause could be the surge in popularity of traditional Mexican "banda music," which prominently features tuba.

The big brass instruments can fetch thousands even if they're old and dented.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.