We’ve seen it happen before: influencers going to great lengths to create the perfect content, with some even crossing legal boundaries. But when the pursuit of likes and views leads to illegal activities, the consequences can be severe. Just ask Marlena Velez, a 22-year-old TikTok sensation from Cape Coral, who learned the hard way that flexing on the internet can lead to serious problems — especially when it involves a shopping spree that goes sour.
With nearly 300,000 followers hanging on her every post, Velez thought she could pull off a heist without getting caught. Spoiler alert: she was wrong. The drama unfolded on October 30 when Velez strolled into a Target on NE Pine Island Road, seemingly ready for a day of retail therapy. But instead of swiping her card, she decided to swipe a cart full of merchandise worth $500.
According to the Cape Coral Police Department (CCPD), Velez entered the store, filled her cart with various household goods and trendy clothing, and then made her way to the self-checkout. Here’s where the plan fell apart: instead of scanning the actual barcodes, she cleverly (or so she thought) scanned a fake barcode that listed lower prices. Sixteen items later, she strutted out of the store, leaving behind a trail of stolen goods valued at $500.32.
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To make matters worse, she even filmed part of her escapade for her social media account, seemingly unaware that the cameras were rolling not just on her phone, but also in the store.
The incident didn’t go unnoticed. Target’s Loss Prevention team reviewed the security footage and quickly identified Velez based on her distinct long black hair, tan shirt, and glasses. As the story spread on social media, the CCPD took to their platforms, posting her picture to garner public assistance in tracking her down.
Little did they know, the internet had already done the detective work for them; an anonymous tipster recognized Velez from the police post and dropped her Instagram handle to the authorities.
After locating Velez and was taken to Lee County Jail where she faces one count of petit theft more than $100, less than $750.
After deactivating her TikTok account, she reactivated it but disabled her comments. Whew!
