Thieves stealing from charity gaming machines is 'a new low,' Shirley's Way owner says

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville nonprofit that helps cancer patients has become the latest victim of a clever — and cruel — crime.

Mike Mulrooney, the owner of Shirley's Way, said thieves found a way to trick charity gaming machines, stealing thousands of dollars meant to help people battling cancer.

"They used a laminated $100 bill and fishing line," Mulrooney said. "They put the money into the machine. Once the machine recognized the money, they pulled the $100 bill back out, racking up thousands of dollars."

For Mulrooney, it's not just a crime against his organization. It's personal.

Shirley's Way — named after Mulrooney's late mother, Shirley — generates between $5 and $6 million a year to help people battling cancer with expenses like housing food, and medical bills. The money comes through gaming machines located in about 40 spots across Louisville.

"When my mom died from cancer, I promised her we'd try to help people who are sick with cancer," he said. "So that's kind of how the whole thing started."

But now, many of the machines are shut down.

"They somehow created a phishing device that was able to slip into the bill acceptor machines on these Grover Games," Mulrooney said. "That's how they did it. They tricked the machine, racked up a couple hundred bucks and then cashed out."

Mulrooney said the suspects were caught on camera but not clearly enough to see exactly what they were doing.

"They had people hovering around them while they were doing it," he said.

Regulars at Shirley's Way like Rick Williams are frustrated.

"It makes me mad, because you're taking away from somebody that needs the money, somebody that actually could use it," he said. "You're taking from them, and it's just not right."

Williams knows the money he plays with goes to a good cause.

"It goes to cancer patients — for their bills, their housing, their food, whatever they need," he said. "Because they go through hard times."

The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission, which regulates charitable gaming, has ordered an audit of the affected locations. All of the machines have been shut down until that review is complete.

For Mulrooney, the loss goes beyond money.

"It hurts," he said. "I'm not too fond of thieves. We see it around here all the time, and I think the general public's just really sick and tired of the theft in this state, the country, the city. But this was kind of a new low."

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