According to Sunshine State police, a Florida lady was taken into custody this week after stealing several hundred dollars’ worth of products from Target and then sharing her loot on social media.
22-year-old Marlena Valez is charged with a single count of misdemeanor petit theft exceeding $100 but under $750.
The incident happened on October 30 inside a Target store in Cape Coral, a sizable city in southwest Florida that is located along the Gulf of Mexico.
According to police, loss prevention staff noticed the woman, who was later identified as Valez, going into the store and purchasing in what appeared to be a typical manner. When it came time to make the payment, that supposedly changed.
“Once at the self-checkout register, the female suspect did not scan the items’ barcodes, instead scanning a false barcode with cheaper prices,” the Cape Coral Police Department stated. “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.”
In an attempt to identify the suspected thief, law enforcement then shared pictures of her on Facebook and Instagram that were taken from the big box retailer’s CCTV camera.
According to the police, that initiative produced results swiftly.
“An anonymous caller saw the post on social media and gave a possible identification for the suspect,” the press release continues. “The anonymous caller also provided officers with Marlena’s Instagram handle.”
A TikTok post by the defendant purportedly showing her leaving Target with the allegedly stolen things was the next thing authorities spotted, which they say was even more egregious than the original robbery.
“Marlena documents herself picking out items inside the store and placing them in her car after exiting the store,” the press release further states. “Marlena appears to be a content creator with almost 300,000 followers.”
According to the police, the woman in the Target security tape and Valez were both wearing “the same outfit and glasses” in the TikTok video.
“She posted a video that day of herself going to Target, buying these items, and then taking them home with her,” Cape Coral Police Public Information Officer Mercedes Simonds stated. “Everything was documented.”
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Clips from a TikTok video are used in a police department-produced film to allegedly show the defendant shopping for a box of disposable diapers and other kitchen supplies, which she subsequently puts in the trunk of her car.
After being taken into custody on Thursday, Valez was freed a few hours later on a $150 cash bond. On December 10, she is scheduled to appear in court.
