Influencer arrested after TikTok video matches Target thief photo

A popular influencer has been arrested for stealing a trolley of Target items after her own TikTok was matched with CCTV of the thief.

An influencer has been charged with stealing from Target after she allegedly shared a “get ready with me” video in the same outfit she was caught on CCTV scamming the store’s self-service checkouts.

Marlena Velez, 22, is accused of using false barcodes to steal 16 items from the budget retailer – valued at about $765.

Footage taken on the Florida store’s security cameras show a dark-haired woman wearing glasses, a tan shirt and matching pants leaving the retailer with a trolley loaded with the stolen goods.

But after local police shared the photo on social media, it led them to Ms Velez’s TikTok account, where the mum-of-two had posted a video of herself heading to Target “in the same outfit and glasses”, police said.

Marlena Velez, 22, was arrested after sharing this video of herself going shopping at Target. Picture: Cape Coral Police Department

Police said her outfit and items in the TikTok video matched a CCTV image of a woman who allegedly stole $765 of products from the budget retailer. Picture: Cape Coral Police Department

The content creator – who has over 346,000 followers – was arrested and later charged on one count of petty theft.

“Sometimes we put out an attempt to identify because the community knows a lot more people than we do, maybe they’re you’re neighbour or you went to high school with them,” a Cape Coral police officer explained.

In this case, Target’s loss prevention department had contacted police on October 30 after an unknown female left the store with a selection of homewares and clothing items they had purchased using false barcodes.

In a video, police detailed how they were able to charge Ms Velez who is accused of using false barcodes at a self-service checkout. Picture: Cape Coral Police Department

“We actually had one person reach out on Instagram who didn’t want to be identified, but provided Ms Velez’s full name, date of birth and her social media handle,” the office continued.

“From there we were able to look up her social media and we even found on TikTok that she posted a video that day of herself going to Target, ‘buying’ these items and then taking them home with her.

“Everything was documented. Even the outfit she wore and all of that matches with the attempt to identify photograph.”

Ms Velez was arrested on November 21 and was released from custody just hours later after paying a $US150 ($230) cash bond according to reports.

The popular influencer’s arrest has sparked a huge level of public interest, with many noting her followers had jumped up by almost 50,000 in a matter of hours.