Thieves caught on camera pooping at Shirley's Way before stealing donated items

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A local nonprofit known for helping families during their darkest hours is now dealing with a disturbing problem.

Shirley's Way, which provides financial support to cancer patients, was targeted by thieves who aren't only stealing from the organization — they're also leaving behind a mess that's hard to ignore.

Security cameras captured people pulling up in trucks and trailers, cutting locks on dumpsters and taking donated items. The cameras also caught people doing the unthinkable.

"You can see the mess ... that's just been thrown on the floor or on the ground," said Mike Mulrooney, founder of Shirley's Way. "They've had to clean up human feces multiple times."

Mulrooney said the organization would gladly give away items they can't sell, but, instead, people are stealing them and damaging property in the process.

"So we had to lock the dumpsters," he said. "Now, they're cutting the chains off the dumpsters all the time, and it's just a constant mess back here."

Shirley's Way has given out millions of dollars since it was founded in 2013. For people like Kellye Duckworth, the help was life-changing.

"Shirley's Way helped pay several of our mortgage payments until my mom's disability kicked in," Duckworth said.

When her mother was diagnosed with stage four cancer, Duckworth said the nonprofit stepped in at a critical time.

"We were definitely going to lose the house just because disability takes a while to kick in," she said. "My dad ... was on a fixed income."

Duckworth now works at the nonprofit to pay it forward. But despite filing police reports, Mulrooney said the thefts and vandalism continue.

"I don't mind people taking stuff," he said. "It's leaving the mess and damaging things in the back that's really aggravating me."

Mulrooney said the issues are happening at two of the organization's location.

"Every day," he said. "... We've got five locations now, and two of them are the worst. The one in Valley and one in PRP. They just leave an absolute mess and ... the first thing (our staff) have to deal with in the morning is cleaning up a mess."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Louisville Metro Police Department's anonymous tip line at 502-574-LMPD (5673).

To learn more about Shirley's Way, click here.

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