The story of a Florida lady who reportedly stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of Target merchandise from a self-checkout counter was shared on TikTok.
22-year-old Marlena Valez is charged with a single count of misdemeanor petit theft exceeding $100 but under $750. Valez had shared a TikTok of herself leaving Target without paying for the things, it was found.
Target security was the first to discover the crime, which took place at a store in Cape Coral, southwest Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico.
Authorities then received Valez’s Instagram handle. After stealing several hundred dollars’ worth of stuff from Target and sharing her loot on social media, she was taken into custody this week.
According to the TikTok video footage, Valez is seen loading a box of disposable diapers and kitchenware into the trunk of her car.
After being taken into custody on Thursday, Valez was freed a few hours later on a $150 cash bond. According to the police, Target’s loss prevention staff noticed Valez entering the store and making purchases before she completed the self-checkout process.
Sixteen pieces of clothing and other home things were taken. The products that were taken were worth $500.32 in total.
The Pictures Shared on Social Media
Officers used Target’s security cameras to confirm this. In an attempt to identify Valez, law authorities shared pictures of her on Facebook and Instagram that were taken from the large box store’s CCTV camera.
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.
According to Cape Coral Police Public Information Officer Mercedes Simonds, “she uploaded a video that day showing herself going to Target, purchasing these things, and then bringing them home with her.” “Everything was recorded.” On December 10, she is scheduled to appear in court.