Marlena Velez, a 22-year-old TikTok influencer with over 300,000 followers, was arrested on November 21 for shoplifting from a Target store in Cape Coral, Florida. The arrest follows a theft incident that took place on October 30, where Velez used a fake barcode to scan items at significantly reduced prices, causing a loss of $500.32 for the store.
According to the Cape Coral Police Department (CCPD), Target’s loss prevention team noticed discrepancies during checkout and alerted authorities. Security footage showed a woman matching Velez’s description — a female aged 20 to 35, with long black hair, wearing tan clothing and glasses.
The case took an unexpected turn when an anonymous follower of Velez’s social media account recognized her from the surveillance footage. The follower provided Velez’s Instagram handle to the police, which led investigators to her TikTok profile. Incredibly, on the same day of the theft, Velez had posted a video where she was wearing the same outfit as seen in the store’s security footage. “She essentially incriminated herself,” said Officer Riley Carter of the CCPD. “Social media gave us an unexpected lead, which expedited her identification and subsequent arrest.”
Velez now faces charges of petty theft, which involves stealing items valued between $100 and $750. She was booked into the Lee County Jail. This arrest is a continuation of her criminal history. At the age of 17, Velez was arrested for grand theft auto after stealing and crashing a car belonging to a high school friend, Amanda Santana. Santana described the incident, stating that Velez gained her trust before betraying it.
This is not the first time Velez has been caught stealing. In July 2023, she was arrested for shoplifting at a Walmart in Cape Coral after under-ringing items worth $63 at a self-checkout. In April 2024, she pleaded no contest to the charges, completed an anti-theft course, and served six months of probation. However, just a month after her probation ended, she allegedly committed another theft, further complicating her legal situation.
“She’s been living recklessly, flaunting a lifestyle that doesn’t match her actions,” Santana commented.
Velez’s arrest has sparked discussions about the role of social media influencers and their accountability. Critics argue that influencers often create an idealized version of their lives online, which can shield them from facing the real-life consequences of their actions. Officer Carter added, “Influencers should face the same consequences as anyone else. Their public image doesn’t excuse illegal behavior.”
