Marlena Velez, a 22-year-old TikTok influencer and mother of two with over 360,000 followers, was arrested on November 30, 2024, in Cape Coral, Florida, on charges of theft after reportedly showcasing stolen merchandise from Target in a social media video. The arrest comes amid growing scrutiny of her criminal history.
The Cape Coral Police Department highlighted her arrest online, prompting comments from locals who recognized her from past incidents. In a statement on their official Instagram account, Cape Coral PD said:
"Officers recognized Marlena Velez from a prior arrest and were able to positively identify her. Officers were also able to positively identify Velez after reviewing the security video footage from this case and observing the wallpaper picture on Velezβs phone. The picture was the same one that was posted on Marlena Velezβs Instagram account with her and her family and is the same wallpaper picture from the previous case."
This isn't Marlena Velez's first brush with the law
October 2019: Arrested for car-theft
As reported by Newsweek, in October 2019, at age 17, Marlena Velez was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, reportedly crashing a stolen car.
Amanda Santana, the victim, provided details of the incident to WBBH. She explained that Marlena Velez, a former friend, had asked to use her car during class and promised to return it by lunchtime. She then said:
"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,"
Bibiana Alonso Santana, Amanda's mother, shared her thoughts on the Cape Coral Police Department's social media post about Marlena Velezβs Target shoplifting arrest, stating:
"She stole my daughter's car in high school and totaled it. I guess some people never learn."
July 2023: Arrested for shoplifting at a Walmart
According to a report by WBBH, In July 2023, Marlena Velez was arrested for shoplifting at a Walmart on Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral.
Security footage showed her at the self-checkout, scanning one item but sneaking another without paying. She stole $63 worth of kitchen items.
By April 2024, Velez pleaded no contest, completed an anti-theft program, and served six months of probation, which ended recently.
October 2024: Shoplifting at Target exactly a month before her November 2024 arrest
On October 30, 2024, Marlena Velez was involved in a theft at a Target store in Cape Coral, Florida. Police reported that Velez used a deceptive barcode method at the self-checkout to steal around $500 worth of goods. She scanned fake barcodes on several items to pay lower prices.
Authorities linked her to the crime after finding a TikTok video she posted that day. In the video, Velez filmed herself picking out the items in the store and later taking them home, wearing the same outfitβa tan shirt, tan pants, and glassesβseen in Target's security footage. This evidence led to her identification and connection to the theft.
November 2024: Marlena Velez shoplifted at Target again
On November 30, 2024, Cape Coral Police detained Velez after Targetβs loss prevention team identified her as the individual who allegedly shoplifted $225 worth of items on November 20. Security footage revealed Velez scanning fake barcodes at self-checkout to pay reduced prices. Among the stolen items were clothing and household goods.
Community Reaction to Marlena Velez's arrest
Trending
The Cape Coral Police Department highlighted her arrest online, prompting comments from locals who recognized her from past incidents. Marlena Velez remains in custody at the Lee County Jail, facing petty theft charges. Penalties could include fines, probation, or jail time.
Despite her social media success, Velezβs repeated legal troubles underscore a troubling pattern, leaving her future as an influencer uncertain.
Reply
