2 women accused of traveling to Florida, stealing $6,000 worth of merchandise

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Two women were arrested in Port Charlotte for their alleged involvement in multiple organized shoplifting thefts throughout Florida, deputies said.

Around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, deputies received a tip from a Burlington employee that two women, who deputies determined were two women living in the country illegally, were allegedly stealing.

When deputies arrived on the scene, two women were loading roughly $400 of stolen merchandise into a 2024 Hyundai Tucson with California license plates, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

The women were identified as 34-year-old Carla Stephany Soto Araneda and 33-year-old Genesi Michael Flores Reyes.

Carla Stephany Soto Araneda (Photo: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

The vehicle had large amounts of clothing with tags from Marshalls and Ross in plain view, deputies said. They also found tools that are used to remove anti-theft devices.

After towing the vehicle to an impound lot, deputies obtained a search warrant and searched the car, where they reportedly found over $6,000 worth of merchandise from several retail stores.

The women allegedly stole $417.77 from Burlington, $2,703.86 from Marshalls and $3,134.32 from Ross, totaling $6,255.95.

Genesi Michael Flores Reyes (Photo: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

Araneda and Reyes were taken to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office to be interviewed, and both women gave full confessions, deputies said.

Detectives determined that Araneda and Reyes traveled from California to Florida and had been all over the state, including Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and Miami. They also said that both women are living in the country illegally.

Andres and Reyes are being held in Charlotte County and U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been notified.