A recent viral clip circulating online has sparked debate after social media users claimed a U.S. soldier was caught shoplifting from a JC Penney in Florida. The bodycam footage, obtained by a YouTube channel and shared in multiple short clips, has left many viewers with more questions than answers.
One of the most widely shared clips, titled “Part 3,” was posted by NotInRegz and has already racked up hundreds of thousands of views. The caption simply reads, “18-year-old Soldier caught stealing at JC Penny,” but the reality of the situation appears to be far more complicated.
The Incident
According to the original source who secured the full bodycam footage, on September 11, 2023, officers from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the JC Penney at the Brandon Mall in Brandon, Florida. Store loss prevention had observed a suspect concealing $147.99 worth of merchandise and attempting to leave without paying. When confronted, the suspect resisted attempts to recover the stolen items, prompting law enforcement to intervene.
Was She Really a Soldier?
During the arrest, the suspect told officers that she had “just joined the Army.” That statement alone seems to be the basis for social media accounts labeling her a “soldier.” However, based on the details in the video, it’s unlikely she had actually enlisted.
She told officers she had borrowed her dad’s car to drive to work at Chipotle before heading to the mall to steal clothing. While her name has not been publicly released, she confirmed to law enforcement that she was a resident of Plant City, Florida.
A search of social media pages belonging to the Army’s Tampa Recruiting Battalion turned up an interesting lead—a photo posted in May 2024 by the Plant City recruiting office showing a recruit who bears a striking resemblance to the suspect in the arrest video. If that’s her, it would suggest she was, at most, a delayed-entry recruit at the time of her arrest and had not yet been to MEPS or officially sworn in.
The Salty Soldier has reached out to U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) Public Affairs for clarification on whether this individual ever formally enlisted and, if so, what her status is now.
For now, the viral video continues to spread, with many commenters jumping to conclusions without full context. While military personnel getting in trouble off-duty is nothing new, this may be a case of someone falsely claiming Army affiliation—or simply another recruit who never made it to basic.
More details to follow as they emerge.
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