Grand Theft Greyhound: The Wild Story Behind Kansas City’s Most Expensive Police Chase

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Grand Theft Greyhound:

While we’ve all seen high-speed chases on the news, those pursuits usually involve stolen sedans or the occasional pickup truck. However, last week, Kansas City residents witnessed something much larger—and much more expensive.

It all started on February 24, when a 21-year-old local man transformed a quiet afternoon into a scene straight out of an action movie. Specifically, he allegedly hijacked a Greyhound bus and forced police into a high-stakes, multi-mile pursuit.

The $600,000 Joyride

According to court documents, Preston R. Reiff allegedly hopped behind the wheel of a bus at a Kansas City station. Notably, this wasn’t just any vehicle; the Greyhound bus carries a staggering value of approximately $600,000.

However, the getaway was far from smooth. In an attempt to exit the lot, Reiff reportedly rammed the massive vehicle through an automatic gate, smashing into a wall and two signs in the process. Consequently, before the chase even reached the open road, the station property damage already exceeded $55,000.

GPS and the Stop Stick® End Game

Fortunately, the Kansas City Police Department didn’t have to look hard to find the missing bus. By using the vehicle’s onboard GPS, officers tracked the bus directly to the area of Northwest 56th Street and I-29.

However, when officers attempted a traffic stop, Reiff allegedly refused to pull over and instead led the KCPD on a pursuit through the city. Recognizing that a high-speed chase involving a massive commercial bus posed a major public safety risk, officers moved quickly to end the threat.

Ultimately, the chase reached its conclusion near Tiffany Springs Parkway, where officers successfully deployed a Stop Stick. The device worked perfectly, deflating the bus’s front tires and bringing the “joyride” to a safe, controlled, and grinding halt.

The Aftermath

Despite the erratic driving and the destruction at the station, investigators confirmed that Reiff was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.

The legal fallout is significant. Reiff has been charged with:

• Stealing

• 1st-degree Tampering with a Motor Vehicle

• 1st-degree Property Damage

As it stands, Reiff is currently being held on a $30,000 cash-only bond. While the bus is now back in Greyhound’s possession, the repair bill for the vehicle and the station gate is undoubtedly going to be a heavy one.

Ultimately, the incident serves as a wild reminder: in the age of GPS tracking and precision tools like the Stop Stick, you can run, but you definitely can’t hide—especially when you’re driving a 45-foot bus with “Greyhound” written on the side.