TikTok Influencer Marlena Velez Arrested Twice for Shoplifting at Same Target

The 22-year-old content creator faces charges for using fake barcodes to steal goods, with her TikTok videos aiding police identification.

Marlena Velez, a TikTok influencer with over 400,000 followers, was arrested twice within weeks for shoplifting from the same Target store in Cape Coral, Florida.
Police allege Velez used fake barcodes at self-checkout registers to steal items worth $500 in October and $225 in November, including household goods and clothing.
Her TikTok videos, which reportedly showed her wearing the same outfit as seen in surveillance footage, played a key role in her identification during the first arrest.
Authorities also matched her phone wallpaper and the tattoos of her male companion, seen in her TikTok content, to surveillance footage from the thefts.
Velez, who has a history of theft-related arrests, posted bail after both incidents and is scheduled to appear in court on December 10, facing potential jail time if convicted.