A Florida TikTok influencer’s attempt at viral fame has taken a turn for the worse after being arrested for shoplifting — and she apparently left all the clues herself.
Marlena Velez, a 22-year-old mom and lifestyle vlogger with over 300,000 followers, has been charged with petty theft after allegedly stealing $500 worth of items from a Target store in Cape Coral, Florida. According to police, she used fake barcodes to lower the prices of 16 items, including clothes and household goods, at a self-checkout station.
But what’s raising eyebrows even more than her crime is her bold move to showcase the stolen goods in a TikTok video.
Crime Scene to TikTok Screen
Police were alerted to the theft after Target’s loss prevention team reviewed security footage and shared images of the suspect online, seeking public help in identifying her. What they didn’t expect was for one of Velez’s own fans to turn her in.
The fan noticed that Velez was wearing the same outfit and glasses in her TikTok video as the person seen in Target’s surveillance footage. Adding fuel to the fire, her since-deleted video documented her “shopping haul” and even showed her loading the items into her car.
“She basically handed us the evidence,” said Officer Riley Carter from the Cape Coral Police Department. “Social media gave us an unexpected lead, which made identifying her a breeze.”
A Pattern of Trouble
This isn’t Velez’s first brush with the law. In 2019, she was arrested for grand theft auto after stealing and crashing her high school friend Amanda Santana’s car. Earlier this year, she was also caught shoplifting $63 worth of kitchen items from a Walmart using similar checkout tricks.
“She’s been living recklessly, flaunting a lifestyle that doesn’t match her actions,” said Santana, who claims Velez never apologized or paid for the damages to her car.
Facing the Consequences
After being arrested on November 21, Velez is now facing charges of petty theft. While her TikTok following brought her fame, it won’t spare her from the consequences of her actions.
“Influencers don’t get a free pass. Everyone is accountable under the law,” Officer Carter added.
As for Velez, she has reportedly deleted her Instagram account and disabled comments on her TikTok profile.
