http://www.wave3.com/story/17216255/thi ... sabled-bus
Thieves swipe catalytic converters from special needs vans halting activities
Posted: Mar 21, 2012 11:29 PM EDT Updated: Mar 21, 2012 11:44 PM EDT
By Katie Bauer - email
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – It's a school devoted to mentally disabled adults, but now its work is stalled. For years St. Mary's Center has provided education and activities for its students, but over the weekend thieves destroyed their only means of transportation.
Not only does this leave the school in a financial pinch, but it's just very disheartening for all the students involved.
On a normal day at St. Mary's Center, the halls would be quiet. Community outings were frequent for the more than 40 students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, they love to keep to their busy schedule, but lately that hasn't been the case.
"It's kind of bad when you are stuck inside," said Brianna Dixon, participant at the center.
Dixon knows exactly what they are missing out on. "Bowling, Derby Dinner and different places we go to."
Their vans are currently stuck in GT Auto Service's parking lot. They were brought there over the weekend to be worked on, but thieves got to them first. Police say the catalytic converters were stolen. Auto shop owner Terry Morris, a big supporter of St. Mary's, could not believe it.
"My heart just sank, we try to do everything as cheap as possible for these vans and try to keep them going," said Morris.
He has a pretty good idea why they were targeted. "It's for scrap metal, the platinum inside of them they take them to salvage yards and scrap them," said Morris.
Instead, crucial programs are being scrapped because there's no way to transport the students from a non profit school that already has to work extremely hard to keep afloat.
"To have this happen is really just another sad, unexpected expense that came along," said Mary Jo Payne, St. Mary's Center co-founder.
Pat Harkleroad's son, Brad, loves being involved in all the activities.
"You want the vans fixed? You want them back don't you?," Harkleroad asks her son. "Yes, I do," answered Brad.
But that may not happen for sometime. "This just really stifles so much of what we try to do here at St. Mary's and what these participants expect that's going to be happening as part of their day and quality day here at the center," said Payne.
To fix the vans even with insurance will be more than $1000. If you have any information in this case that could help police, call 502-574-LMPD.
