Border Czar Kamala
2024-12-13 05:14:11 UTC
A 22-year-old social media influencer on TikTok with nearly 300,000
followers has been arrested after using fake barcodes to steal from Target
and filming herself getting ready before the alleged theft, police say.
The Cape Coral Police Department in Florida responded to a Target branch
located at 1890 NE Pine Island Road in Cape Coral last Wednesday regarding
a past retail theft that occurred on Oct. 30, according to a statement
from the Cape Coral Police Department.
Loss Prevention at Target stated that on October 30, 2024, an unknown
female entered the store and selected items listed for sale, police said.
Once at the self-checkout register, the female suspect did not scan the
items barcodes, instead scanning a false barcode with cheaper prices.
In total, 16 items of miscellaneous household goods and clothing were
stolen with a total retail value of $500.32, which was verified by
officers via Targets security cameras.
In an attempt to help identify the suspect through public assistance, the
Cape Coral Police Departments Facebook and Instagram accounts posted the
females picture, describing her as appearing to be approximately 20-35
years old, had long black hair, and was wearing a tan shirt, tan pants,
and glasses.
An anonymous caller who saw the post on social media subsequently
contacted the police and gave the possible identification for the suspect
as Marlena Velez and informed them of her social media profiles.
Officers then found Marlenas TikTok account, which documents her getting
ready on October 30, 2024, in the same outfit and glasses and going to
Target, police said. Marlena documents herself picking out items inside
the store and placing them in her car after exiting the store. Marlena
appears to be a content creator with almost 300,000 followers.
Velez has since been arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail and charged
with petit theft of less than $750.
The investigation is currently ongoing.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/social-media-influencer-arrested-after-filming-
ready-steal/story?id=116226587
followers has been arrested after using fake barcodes to steal from Target
and filming herself getting ready before the alleged theft, police say.
The Cape Coral Police Department in Florida responded to a Target branch
located at 1890 NE Pine Island Road in Cape Coral last Wednesday regarding
a past retail theft that occurred on Oct. 30, according to a statement
from the Cape Coral Police Department.
Loss Prevention at Target stated that on October 30, 2024, an unknown
female entered the store and selected items listed for sale, police said.
Once at the self-checkout register, the female suspect did not scan the
items barcodes, instead scanning a false barcode with cheaper prices.
In total, 16 items of miscellaneous household goods and clothing were
stolen with a total retail value of $500.32, which was verified by
officers via Targets security cameras.
In an attempt to help identify the suspect through public assistance, the
Cape Coral Police Departments Facebook and Instagram accounts posted the
females picture, describing her as appearing to be approximately 20-35
years old, had long black hair, and was wearing a tan shirt, tan pants,
and glasses.
An anonymous caller who saw the post on social media subsequently
contacted the police and gave the possible identification for the suspect
as Marlena Velez and informed them of her social media profiles.
Officers then found Marlenas TikTok account, which documents her getting
ready on October 30, 2024, in the same outfit and glasses and going to
Target, police said. Marlena documents herself picking out items inside
the store and placing them in her car after exiting the store. Marlena
appears to be a content creator with almost 300,000 followers.
Velez has since been arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail and charged
with petit theft of less than $750.
The investigation is currently ongoing.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/social-media-influencer-arrested-after-filming-
ready-steal/story?id=116226587