US TikTok influencer arrested after allegedly documenting stolen items

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A Florida woman and TikTok influencer who allegedly stole approximately $500 worth of merchandise from a Target store and posted her purchases on social media – where she has hundreds of thousands of followers – has been arrested, authorities said.

Marlena Velez, 22, stole items by scanning fake barcodes at a Target self-checkout in Cape Coral, Florida, to lower the price of the items, Cape Coral police said in a news release.

Velez has over 360,000 followers on TikTok, where he posts daily content about his life.

Cape Coral Police responded to Target on November 20 in reference to a theft that occurred on October 30. According to a news release, Target’s security cameras showed Velez using fake barcodes to steal 16 different household items and clothing worth $500.32.

Police received an anonymous tip via Instagram after a photo of Velez was posted on social media asking the public for tips; she was unidentified at the time, wearing a brown shirt, brown pants and glasses. According to the agency, the tipster provided the authorities with her name, surname, date of birth and Instagram username.

The agency found Velez’s TikTok account, which included a post from Oct. 30 in which she showed herself preparing to go to Target and wearing the same outfit as seen in Target’s surveillance footage. Velez also recorded herself choosing products in the store and then taking them home with her.

“Everything has been documented,” department spokeswoman Mercedes Phillips said in a video posted to the department’s Facebook account. The video appears to have been deleted.

According to the press release, Velez was arrested and charged with one count of petty theft.

Fast Company reported that Velez was released on $150 bail and was scheduled to appear in court on December 10. THE NEW YORK TIMES