If doorstep poo drives you crazy too, you’ll feel for this clinic's staff
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Unexpected disturbances in quiet neighbourhoods can leave communities both puzzled and unsettled.
What begins as an isolated incident sometimes reveals a pattern that demands attention and action.
The following story uncovers an unusual situation that has tested patience and prompted a public appeal.
A suburban health clinic in Perth’s north-west found itself grappling with an unusual and deeply frustrating problem that left staff both bewildered and distressed.
Over several months, someone had been repeatedly using their doorstep as a personal toilet — a shocking and bizarre situation that prompted the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia (ADSA) to make a public plea for help.
At first, the clinic believed the incident was a one-off. When the woman was first caught on CCTV defecating in broad daylight on 8 December, staff felt some sympathy, thinking someone may have been in distress.
But the situation quickly spiralled, with the same jogger striking again before dawn on 20 March — narrowly avoiding being caught by a passing car — and returning at similar early hours on 1 April and most recently last week.
‘Coming in and finding this in the morning is extremely distressing for our staff,’ ADSA chief executive Melita Markey shared. ‘We (initially) thought, “Oh, someone's got in a bit of distress and did what they had to do.”’
Despite the clinic’s location near a 24-hour petrol station and public toilets, the woman continued her disturbing habit. Professional cleaners have been hired repeatedly to deal with the biohazardous mess — which poses health risks not only to the staff and clients but also to the woman herself.
‘I believe it's a cry for help, (I don't know) why she targets us...We'd love her to come in and see our GP and see if we can do something to help her,’ Ms Markey added.
Clinical psychologist Grant Brecht suggested the repeated behaviour might indicate obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), especially given it had happened four times. ‘They believe that if they don't do something then something terrible or awful could happen to themselves or someone they love,’ he explained.
This isn’t the first time such behaviour has made headlines. Dr Brecht recalled a 2018 case in Queensland involving Andrew Macintosh, a high-flying businessman who was named and shamed after being caught in the act, toilet paper in hand, on a secret camera. The same psychological theories were applied then.
‘They are seeking a thrill and they get addicted to the way it makes them feel...equating it to taking a hit of heroin,’ Dr Brecht told the Sydney Morning Herald. ‘It can make them feel invincible...it can also tie into the idea of delusions of grandeur.’
In a desperate attempt to stop the incidents, the ADSA has posted signs and shared images of the jogger outside their premises, while also reporting the matter to police and local council. ‘Perhaps we need to leave some jogger doggy bags out!’ the organisation joked on social media.
This unsettling saga is far from isolated. Weeks earlier, a family in Adelaide’s Kensington Gardens was stunned to find a woman defecating in their driveway, captured by security cameras as she walked her dog.
Rather than suffer in silence, the family plastered posters around the neighbourhood, demanding the woman come forward.
As the community watches closely, the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia hopes this strange and distressing chapter will soon come to an end.
This unsettling story is even more real when you see the footage for yourself. It’s a reminder of how unexpected challenges can affect our communities.
Take a moment to watch and then share your thoughts—have you ever dealt with something equally baffling in your neighbourhood?
Source: Youtube/9 News Australia
After hearing about this unusual situation, how would you react if something similar happened in your neighbourhood? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
What begins as an isolated incident sometimes reveals a pattern that demands attention and action.
The following story uncovers an unusual situation that has tested patience and prompted a public appeal.
A suburban health clinic in Perth’s north-west found itself grappling with an unusual and deeply frustrating problem that left staff both bewildered and distressed.
Over several months, someone had been repeatedly using their doorstep as a personal toilet — a shocking and bizarre situation that prompted the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia (ADSA) to make a public plea for help.
At first, the clinic believed the incident was a one-off. When the woman was first caught on CCTV defecating in broad daylight on 8 December, staff felt some sympathy, thinking someone may have been in distress.
Perth clinic plagued by repeated doorstep defecation. Image source: Nine News
But the situation quickly spiralled, with the same jogger striking again before dawn on 20 March — narrowly avoiding being caught by a passing car — and returning at similar early hours on 1 April and most recently last week.
‘Coming in and finding this in the morning is extremely distressing for our staff,’ ADSA chief executive Melita Markey shared. ‘We (initially) thought, “Oh, someone's got in a bit of distress and did what they had to do.”’
Despite the clinic’s location near a 24-hour petrol station and public toilets, the woman continued her disturbing habit. Professional cleaners have been hired repeatedly to deal with the biohazardous mess — which poses health risks not only to the staff and clients but also to the woman herself.
‘I believe it's a cry for help, (I don't know) why she targets us...We'd love her to come in and see our GP and see if we can do something to help her,’ Ms Markey added.
Clinical psychologist Grant Brecht suggested the repeated behaviour might indicate obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), especially given it had happened four times. ‘They believe that if they don't do something then something terrible or awful could happen to themselves or someone they love,’ he explained.
This isn’t the first time such behaviour has made headlines. Dr Brecht recalled a 2018 case in Queensland involving Andrew Macintosh, a high-flying businessman who was named and shamed after being caught in the act, toilet paper in hand, on a secret camera. The same psychological theories were applied then.
‘They are seeking a thrill and they get addicted to the way it makes them feel...equating it to taking a hit of heroin,’ Dr Brecht told the Sydney Morning Herald. ‘It can make them feel invincible...it can also tie into the idea of delusions of grandeur.’
In a desperate attempt to stop the incidents, the ADSA has posted signs and shared images of the jogger outside their premises, while also reporting the matter to police and local council. ‘Perhaps we need to leave some jogger doggy bags out!’ the organisation joked on social media.
This unsettling saga is far from isolated. Weeks earlier, a family in Adelaide’s Kensington Gardens was stunned to find a woman defecating in their driveway, captured by security cameras as she walked her dog.
Rather than suffer in silence, the family plastered posters around the neighbourhood, demanding the woman come forward.
As the community watches closely, the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia hopes this strange and distressing chapter will soon come to an end.
This unsettling story is even more real when you see the footage for yourself. It’s a reminder of how unexpected challenges can affect our communities.
Take a moment to watch and then share your thoughts—have you ever dealt with something equally baffling in your neighbourhood?
Source: Youtube/9 News Australia
After hearing about this unusual situation, how would you react if something similar happened in your neighbourhood? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
