Rash of tuba thefts surprise school music programs

Tubas are getting snatched up by thieves in California. (AP)

Tuba players better hold tight to their instruments. There’s been a rash of tuba thefts at schools in southern California.

“Perhaps there’s a black market for tubas,” says music teacher Ruben Gonzalez Jr. the music teacher at South Gate High School, who’s trying to make sense of why five of the school’s tubas were stolen.

Gonzalez tells 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank Show that three tubas were stolen in the first theft incident at his school. Then the thieves hit for a second time taking two more.

“It’s not just here too. The next city over, Huntington Park High School, was robbed of all their tubas as well.”

Listen to interview: Music teacher tells of rash of tuba thefts in CA

Tubas are a high ticket item for the schools.

“A sousaphone which is marching tuba has an MSRP of about $7,770. Then the concert tuba which you would use for a symphonic setting goes for about $3,590,” says Gonzalez.

He says he isn’t certain why thieves are targeting tubas, but he says being in the tuba business is becoming more and more lucrative.

“There’s a big Banda craze down here in the southern California area. Banda is a Spanish type music of Mexican influence, kind of like a polka almost. They use tubas a lot,” says Gonzalez. “In fact, there was an article just not too long ago about how tuba players are making a lot of money down here in southern California.”

The tubas stolen from Gonzalez’s program would cost around $30,000 to replace. He says the school is not in a position to do that right now.

“Our budgets are so small, there’s just no way we could replace five tubas at $30,000 in one fell swoop,” says Gonzalez.

He says he hopes they find a way to recover or replace the stolen tubas for his students. He’s also hoping other schools take notice and set up a plan to keep their tubas safe.

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor