Influencer arrested for shoplifting after police trace her posts
A tip-off from an anonymous source provided Velez’s full name, social media handles and date of birth, leading investigators to the influencer.
SHAH ALAM - A TikTok influencer has been arrested for shoplifting after allegedly flaunting a haul of stolen items from a Target store to her 350,000 followers in a viral video.
Marlena Velez, 22, known on TikTok as @marlenavelezz, faces a charge of petty theft in Florida.
Cape Coral Police reportedly said that Velez stole $500.32 worth of household items and clothing from a Target store in Cape Coral on 30 October.
Authorities allege she used falsified barcodes with lower prices to scan 16 items at the self-checkout counter.
Later that day, she posted a video titled “Day in the Life as a Mom”, where she was seen wearing the same outfit at the same Target store.
Surveillance footage showed her picking the items she allegedly stole and loading them into her car.
An image shared by authorities showed the suspect dressed in a tan outfit and glasses, captured by Target’s surveillance cameras.
A tip-off from an anonymous source provided Velez’s full name, social media handles and date of birth, leading investigators to the influencer.
Police were able to link Velez’s TikTok video to the store’s surveillance footage.
Velez was arrested on Thursday night and booked into Lee County Jail before being released on a $150 cash bond, according to booking records.
She is scheduled to appear in court on Dec 10.
The allegations have sparked an uproar on social media, with heated debates filling comment sections.
Many criticised Velez’s actions, calling out the influencer lifestyle and its pressures.
@libertymadison wrote: "When will y’all learn...Do not shoplift from Target. They do not play."
Others criticised the facade influencers often project.
@qqueencece_ remarked "Influencers are all Image. They appear to have it together, but look what some are capable of... crimes."
The frustration was evident among commenters who called out the influencer's choices.
@agenthandratty said "Doing all that for validation from strangers, but you don’t even know yourself. Entirely too much for a bond you can’t even afford."
Some questioned the practicality of the crime itself.
@mahalocindy noted "How did she get out with all that stuff undetected? People like her make it harder for everyone else, drives prices up. Glad someone snitched."
The backlash also reignited debates about influencer culture. @sky_soldierrr bluntly stated: "Influencer is not real work. Go get a job! It’s shocking they get paid more than doctors."
