Florida social media influencer arrested after police say she filmed herself while shoplifting
A Florida woman and social media influencer accused of shoplifting $500 of items from Target was arrested after police say she was identified through a TikTok video she filmed of the incident.
The 22-year-old allegedly stole the items by scanning false bar codes with cheaper prices than what she was purchasing at the self-checkout of a Target in Cape Coral, Florida on Oct. 30, according to a statement from the Cape Coral Police Department.
Police said that they identified the woman, who posted daily content on TikTok about her life and personal habits and had almost 300,000 followers on the social media platform—the account has since grown to more than 360,000 followers as of Nov. 26—after seeing a video in which she documented a trip to Target on the date of the theft and picked up the same items that were stolen.
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Identified by an anonymous tip
Cape Coral police responded to Target on Nov. 20 and confirmed with the store's loss prevention department and security camera footage that a woman wearing tan pants, a tan shirt, and glasses stole a total of 16 items of miscellaneous goods and clothing valued at $500.32, according to the Fort Myers News-Press.
Police posted a photo taken from the store of the woman on the department's social media pages asking for possible leads, and soon thereafter received an anonymous tip from someone who provided the social media influencer's name, birthday and Instagram handle.
The department then found her TikTok account, as well as the incriminating video documenting her trip to Target on Oct. 30 in the same outfit and glasses as the suspect in the security camera footage.
The woman was arrested and charged with one count of petty theft, according to police.
Court records for Lee County, Fla. show that she was released on bond and has an arraignment scheduled for Dec. 10.
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok influencer who allegedly filmed herself shoplifting arrested