A Florida TikToker's Get Ready With Me video for a trip to Target took an unexpected twist when she was allegedly caught stealing more than $500 worth of merchandise from the store. However, this isn't the first time the influencer has been charged with stealing.
Marlena Velez, 22, a mom of two and content creator with more than 300,000 followers, who allegedly stole the merchandise from Target, also allegedly stole a car and kitchenware several years ago.
Newsweek reached out to Velez for a comment, however, she has not yet responded.
In October 2019, when Velez was 17, Cape Coral Police Department arrested her and charged her with grand theft of a motor vehicle, WBBH reported.
In a statement posted on social media by the Cape Coral Police Department regarding the influencer's Target arrest, Bibiana Alonso Santana said, "She stole my daughter's car in high school and totaled it. I guess some people never learn."
Newsweek contacted Santana for comment. Her daughter, Amanda Santana, told WBBH that Velez asked her to stay in her car during class until lunchtime. They were friends.
"I went to the parking lot, and I'm looking around for my car, and I can't find it, so I actually, like double-checked, looked on every side, and I was like, where is my car? We figured out that she went and crashed my car and totaled it into a ditch at a Dunkin' on Cape Coral Parkway," Santana's daughter told the outlet.
Newsweek contacted the CCPD about the car incident, but has yet to receive a response.
In July 2023, authorities arrested Velez again, this time for allegedly shoplifting at a Walmart on Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral, WBBH reported.
In a report obtained by the outlet, police said Velez stole $63 worth of kitchen items. In April 2024, the influencer pleaded no contest to the charges. She completed an anti-theft course and served six months of probation, which ended last month.
This time, she recorded the entire incident and shared it on her TikTok account.
Target's loss prevention team reported on October 30 that an unidentified woman (allegedly Velez) entered the store and selected several items. At the self-checkout register, she scanned a counterfeit barcode instead of the items' actual barcodes, reducing the prices, according to the Cape Coral Police Department's press release.
"Sixteen items of miscellaneous household goods and clothing were stolen," the release said. "The total loss of the stolen items was valued at $500.32. Officers verified this with Target's security cameras."
The police department shared a photo of Velez on social media to help identify her. The image showed a woman, estimated to be between 20 and 35 years old, with long black hair, wearing a tan shirt, tan pants and glasses.
An anonymous tipster who saw the social media post identified the suspect as Velez. The caller also provided officers with Velez's Instagram handle.
Velez has since deleted her Instagram page and her TikTok page is private.
Velez posted a TikTok video documenting her Target trip on October 30. Officers traced her account, where she recorded herself, wearing the same outfit and glasses, picking out items and loading them into her car.
The video of her Target trip has since been deleted. Her last post, on November 15, marked a notable break for an influencer who typically posts daily.
Authorities took her to the Lee County Jail, where she faces a charge of petty theft for stealing items worth between $100 and $750, the press release said.
In many cases, petty theft is classified as a misdemeanor, and people may be released on bail or bond while awaiting trial. Penalties for petty theft can also vary, including fines, community service, probation or jail time.
Velez, a stay-at-home mom of two toddlers in Cape Coral, Florida, is an influencer known for her popular Day In My Life videos, which have garnered more than a million views. Her TikTok bio highlights her focus on vlogs, home and style content.
Since her first post in August, Velez has gained 367,000 followers and earned 8.8 million likes.
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