(November 21, 2024) — On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, officers working for the Cape Coral Police Department responded to Target, located at 1890 NE Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, for a past retail theft.
Loss Prevention at Target stated that on October 30, 2024, an unknown female entered the store and selected items listed for sale. Once at the self-checkout register, the female suspect did not scan the items’ barcodes, instead scanning a false barcode with cheaper prices. Sixteen items of miscellaneous household goods and clothing were stolen. The total loss of the stolen items was valued at $500.32. Officers verified this with Target’s security cameras.
The Cape Coral Police Department’s Facebook and Instagram accounts posted the female’s picture to assist with identification. In the photo, the female appeared to be approximately 20-35 years old, had long black hair, and was wearing a tan shirt, tan pants, and glasses.
An anonymous caller saw the post on social media and gave a possible identification for the suspect as Marlena Velez (DOB 08/16/2002). The anonymous caller also provided officers with Marlena’s Instagram handle.
Officers then found Marlena’s TikTok account, which documents her getting ready on October 30, 2024, in the same outfit and glasses and going to Target. 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.
Officers located Marlena Velez and took her to the Lee County Jail on the following charges:
–1 count in violation of F.S.S. 812.014(3a), Petit theft more than $100 less than $750Â
Arrested: Marlena Velez (DOB 08/16/2002)
***Mugshot not yet available at time of release