NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Nolensville Police Department is on the hunt for an alleged porch pirate working as a DoorDash delivery driver.
This case has been ongoing since Dec. 15, 2024. According to police, that’s when a man delivered Dunkin’ to one house in the Bent Creek community.
Minutes later and a block away, authorities said the suspect was captured on a Ring surveillance camera stealing $300 worth of dolls — Christmas presents for a little girl — from a nearby neighbor’s porch.
“Violation of property, basically. I mean, it’s my stuff; you came up on my porch and took it. It’s pretty gutsy,” the victim told News 2 over the phone.
When asked what she would say to the thief, the owner said, “What did you with my stuff when you found out it was a bunch of doll things that you can’t use?”
“This isn’t something that is uncommon. People will use these delivery services as patsies, essentially. It’s a good cover; it’s a legit business,” explained Detective Allison Humes from the Nolensville Police Department.
When the victim posted the recording of the incident online, other community members saw the crime, including the woman who ordered the Dunkin’. She said she immediately recognized the porch pirate as her delivery man and she contacted the victim.
When people examined the footage, they saw the suspect was driving what officials described as a silver Honda Accord.
“We checked the footage and, sure enough, had great footage of our DoorDash delivery driver,” the woman who ordered the Dunkin’ said.
Police used the neighborhood’s license plate recognition system and learned the car belonged to 31-year-old Shawn Baker from the East Tennessee city of Sweetwater, which is roughly three hours from Nolensville, according to Google.
“This troubles the community because everyone could potentially be a victim. People are using Amazon or any other kind of delivery service for all sorts of things, especially around this time of year. It’s usually Christmas gifts,” Humes said.
Humes said she contacted the delivery company, which confirmed Baker was delivering food in Nolensville at the time of the crime.
According to the detective, this is a good example of “how the Nolensville community works together to make it a better place.”
The homeowner who ordered the Dunkin’ told News 2 nothing is too small or too insignificant for the Nolensville Police Department to handle it diligently.
Authorities said they have a warrant for Baker’s arrest for theft under $1,000. Other than a traffic ticket, Baker reportedly has no criminal record.
If you have any information regarding Baker’s whereabouts, you’re asked to call the Nolensville Police Department at 615-776-3640.
