Viral TikTokker Marlena Velez is arrested again
A TikTok influencer who gained notoriety for filming herself shoplifting from Target has once again found herself in trouble with the law. Marlena Velez, a Florida-based content creator with over 525,000 followers on TikTok, was wanted for violating her probation when Cape Coral police spotted her behind the wheel of her car on September 29.
When police attempted to pull her over, Velez fled the scene in her Kia Sorento. She was later spotted in the same vehicle on Sunday, this time hiding in the back seat. Police eventually located her and took her into custody for violating probation and eluding police.
This isn’t Velez’s first run-in with the law. Last year, she made headlines for two shoplifting arrests at her local Target. In one incident, she stole $500 worth of items, which she later posted about on TikTok, leading police straight to her. In another incident, she used a fake barcode to scan items at the self-checkout, resulting in a $225 theft.
Velez pleaded no contest to petty theft earlier this year and was sentenced to a work program, probation, and banned from all Target stores. However, her criminal history dates back to 2019 when she was arrested for grand theft auto at just 17 years old. She was also arrested in 2023 for shoplifting at a Walmart in Cape Coral.
As of now, Velez remains in custody on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on October 27. Her repeated run-ins with the law have raised concerns about her behavior and the consequences she may face in the future.
