A Cape Coral woman with a large social media following who was arrested for shoplifting from Target was arrested again nine days later, accused of the same crime.

Marlena Velez, 22, was again charged with petit theft on Nov. 30. Cape Coral Police Department officials stated she stole a total of $225 in merchandise from Target on Pine Island Road on Nov. 20.

Velez had been arrested on on Nov. 21 for allegedly stealing more than $500 worth of items in a separate incident at the same Target. Police said she had scanned improper barcodes at the self-checkout.

CCPD posted the woman’s photo on its social media accounts to identify her after the first alleged theft, which occurred on Oct. 30. Police state an anonymous caller saw the post and gave a possible identification of Velez, and provided them with her Instagram handle.

Police said Velez appears to be a content creator with almost 300,000 followers.

During CCPD’s second investigation of Velez on Nov. 30, officers met with Target’s loss prevention staff, who said that on Nov. 20, a known repeat female suspect, Velez, entered the store and, at a self-checkout register, did not scan some of the items but rather scanned a false barcode instead of the real barcodes on the merchandise. Sixteen items of miscellaneous household goods and clothing were stolen, officials said.

CCPD officials said that officers recognized Marlena Velez from the arrest and were able to positively identify her.

“Officers were also able to positively identify Velez after reviewing the security video footage from this case and observing the wallpaper picture on Velez’s phone,” CCPD officials said in a release. “The picture was the same one that was posted on Marlena Velez’s Instagram account with her and her family and is the same wallpaper picture from the previous case.”

Police stated an adult male was present with her during the second theft, and has a distinct tattoo on his left arm that is the same tattoo shown on a male that is shown in some of Velez’s TikTok videos.

With the holiday season in full-effect and stores much busier this time of year, CCPD officials warned those who attempt to shoplift.

“You will get caught,” said CCPD officials. “Whether it’s right then and there, or even weeks later as in the case of Marlena Velez; she committed her first act of theft on October 30th, and even though weeks had gone by since the crime took place, she was still arrested and will have to deal with the consequences of her actions.”

Velez was booked into Lee County Jail and has since bonded out on a $500 cash bond.