TikTok Influencer Arrested Again for Alleged Theft at Florida Target Store

A TikTok influencer with nearly 400,000 followers has been arrested for a second time. She is accused of stealing from the same Target store in Cape Coral, Florida, where she previously faced theft charges.

The TikTokker’s crime also brought to light her prior criminal history.

Marlena Velez, 22, first made headlines last month when she was charged with stealing 16 items worth over $500. Investigators linked her to the crime using TikTok videos she posted, in which she flaunted her purchases. Now, according to reports from NBC 2, she faces additional charges after allegedly shoplifting from the same store on November 20.

Marlena Velez, 22, is facing petty theft charges for allegedly stealing more than $500 from the Target store in Cape Coral on Oct. 30.

Authorities revealed that Velez used a fake barcode at the store’s self-checkout to scan 16 household and clothing items valued at $225. She was identified through surveillance footage and a distinctive wallpaper on her phone, which matched a photo from her Instagram account. Additionally, a man with a recognisable arm tattoo, featured in several of Velez’s TikTok videos, was reportedly present during the theft.

Velez, who posts videos on TikTok about her life as a mom to two kids, was identified as the shoplifter by an anonymous caller claiming to be one of her followers, police said.

The since-deleted video also showed her documenting herself picking out items inside the Target and placing them in her car afterwards.

During her first arrest, police cited security footage and Velez’s own TikTok content, including a “get-ready-with-me” video from the day of the theft. The video showed her wearing the same outfit and glasses seen in surveillance footage. She also recorded herself shopping in Target and loading the items into her car. Although the incriminating TikTok videos have since been deleted, they significantly impacted her initial apprehension.

This is her second arrest for shoplifting at the exact Target. Cape Coral Police Department

This is not Velez’s first brush with the law. In 2019, she was arrested at just 17 for grand theft auto after stealing a friend’s car and crashing it. In July 2023, she was also charged with shoplifting from a Walmart in Cape Coral, further cementing her history of theft-related offences.

Police said Velez used a phoney barcode to scan items at the self-checkout. Cape Coral Police Department

Velez now faces fresh legal challenges as authorities build their case against her. Despite her social media fame, her repeated run-ins with the law raise questions about accountability and the risks of documenting potentially incriminating behaviour online.