Marlena Velez, a 22-year-old TikTok influencer with over 300k followers, was arrested on November 21 for shoplifting from a Target store in Cape Coral, Florida.
The arrest followed an incident on October 30, where Velez reportedly used a fake barcode at the store on Pine Island Road, scanning items for significantly lower prices. Authorities revealed the theft caused a $500.32 loss to Target.
The Cape Coral Police Department (CCPD) stated that Target’s loss prevention staff noticed discrepancies at checkout and informed the police. Security footage showed a woman fitting Velez’s description: a female between the ages of 20 and 35, with long black hair, wearing tan clothing and glasses.
In a surprising twist, an anonymous follower recognized Velez and provided police with her Instagram handle. Officers then located her TikTok account, where a video posted on the same day showed her wearing the exact outfit seen in the surveillance footage.
“She essentially incriminated herself,” said CCPD spokesperson Officer Riley Carter. “Social media gave us an unexpected lead, which expedited her identification and subsequent arrest.”
Velez was charged with petty theft for an item valued between $100 and $750 and booked into the Lee County jail.
@marlenavelezz Pre @morganwallen fit check 🤍 mom came out to play tn 🤠- #momsoftiktok #morganwallen #morganwallenconcert #countryconcert #ootd #transition #youngmom #momtok
♬ THINKIN BOUT ME - W E S 🎼
The arrest has reignited scrutiny over Velez’s troubling criminal history. Police confirmed she was first arrested at 17 for grand theft auto in 2019. According to her former high school friend, Amanda Santana, Velez betrayed her trust by stealing and crashing her car.
“She had a class with me at Ida Baker High School, and we clicked,” Santana recalled. “I trusted her so much that I handed over my car keys. But that trust was destroyed when she disappeared with my car and later crashed it into a ditch near a Dunkin’.” Santana revealed Velez never paid restitution for the damages. “It’s like she never felt any remorse.”
This was not an isolated incident, as records show Velez was also arrested in July 2023 for shoplifting at a Walmart in Cape Coral. Surveillance footage captured her under-ringing items at self-checkout, stealing $63 worth of kitchen goods. Velez pleaded no contest to the charges in April 2024, completed an anti-theft course, and served six months of probation.
Despite her probation ending last month, Velez allegedly committed theft again at Target, escalating the severity of her legal troubles. “She’s been living recklessly, flaunting a lifestyle that doesn’t match her actions,” Santana said.
Velez’s arrest has sparked debates about the accountability of social media influencers. Critics argue that online platforms often glamorize false personas, shielding problematic behaviors. “Influencers should face the same consequences as anyone else,” Officer Carter emphasized. “Their public image doesn’t exempt them from the law.”
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