A recent video shows porch pirates stealing a cooler in Denton; however, after some detective work, the owner recovered it.
A Denton resident posted a video on the Ring doorbell app, showing two suspects stealing a Yukon cooler from her front porch in the early hours of January 11. The owner would eventually find it in Gainesville.
“As she was canvassing social media days later, she observed what she thought was the exact same item matching her stolen property being advertised for sale,” said Denton Police Department Spokeswoman Lacy Fenn to The Dallas Express. “She then contacted the seller who was advertising the item online and was able to recover her property.”
The incident took place in the 900 block of W. Hickory Street, according to Fenn. The owner posted on the Ring app that she had “located the stolen item in Gainesville.”
“The residents were quick to hand it over & roll on their family member once they learned a police report had been filed,” the owner wrote.
The video apparently shows two men approaching the darkened porch around 12:40 a.m., with their hoods up. They move a plant off the cooler, lift it, and carry it away.
Denton police contacted the owner around 2:40 a.m., as stated by Fenn. After locating her property, the owner requested that the officers close the case.
Neighbors on the Ring app reported similar activity: suspects stealing items from porches and dumpsters, then turning around and selling them.
In November 2025, a porch pirate targeted multiple homes in Denton, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. One resident described the suspect as having “Unique Traits: Someone who owns a belt but can’t use it correctly.” Detectives launched an investigation.
In July, more porch pirates reportedly visited Denton apartments, as The Dallas Express also reported. One resident decided to set a trap – leaving out a box filled with dirty cat litter.
“We encourage anyone who has been a victim of mail theft to report it to the Denton Police Department,” Fenn told The Dallas Express. “If they have access to Ring footage, providing that information is also encouraged.”
