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While enjoying a field trip at Henry Vilas Zoo, 13 Rusch Elementary School students unknowingly lost their lunches to a thief Monday morning.

A parent, who drove separately, parked in the Madison zoo parking lot with the students’ lunches inside, according to Portage School District Administrator Margaret Rudolph. She said the vehicle was then stolen from the lot.

When first-grade teacher Amy Paulsen learned the prepacked lunches were gone, she bought her students lunch from a concession stand.

“The kids got their lunch, and actually they really liked it,” Rudolph said.

In a news release, she thanked Paulsen and other Rusch staff and parents for their “quick thinking.” The district reimbursed Paulsen.

A police report was filed with the Madison Police Department.

There also have been a rash of car thefts in Portage and police last week urged people in the community to secure their belongings.

Follow Susan Endres on Twitter @EndresSusan or call her at 745-3506.

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