Florida Sisters Arrested After Allegedly Trying to Steal Nearly $2,500 in Target Merchandise Hidden Under Shopping Bags, Deputies Say

DAVENPORT, FL — Two Florida sisters are accused of attempting one of the boldest retail thefts deputies say they’ve seen in months — walking out of Target with nearly $2,500 in merchandise hidden beneath Target shopping bags, only to later insist they could “pay for it” once they were caught.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the women tried to pass every checkout lane and head straight for the exit. What they didn’t expect was a vigilant loss-prevention worker watching their every move.

Sisters Spotted Loading Two Carts Full of Merchandise, Deputies Say

Deputies say Afnane Kamel, 19, and Hala Kamel, 32, entered the Target on Grandview Parkway around 7:30 p.m. and immediately began moving through aisles at high speed.

According to the affidavit, the women were “making rapid selections throughout the store”, tossing merchandise into two separate shopping carts as if they were doing a timed challenge.

But it was what they allegedly did next that raised red flags.

They pulled Target shopping bags from displays, tore them apart, and laid them across the carts like camouflage, deputies say — hiding shelves of unpaid items beneath.

A store employee later told deputies:

“They filled two shopping carts and covered everything with bags to make it look like they had already checked out.”

Surveillance Video Shows Them Walking Past All Registers, Report Says

At around 8:30 p.m., surveillance footage captured what investigators say was the moment the women attempted to leave the store.

They didn’t stop at self-checkout.
They didn’t move toward a register.
They went straight for the exit.

Deputies say they walked past “all final points of sale” with two full carts of concealed merchandise worth $2,487.70 before tax.

That’s when the loss-prevention officer stepped in, confronting the sisters near the exit and escorting them to the office.

Once deputies arrived, the women allegedly tried to smooth things over.

“They spontaneously stated they could pay the amount owed to get out of trouble,” the affidavit reads.

But deputies weren’t buying it.

Deputies: “That’s Not a Mistake — That’s a Crime”

After being read their Miranda rights, both sisters allegedly admitted to deciding to steal the items “while in the store and not before.”

Sheriff Grady Judd didn’t mince words in a written statement:

“When you try to walk out with $2,500 in unpaid merchandise, that’s not a mistake — that’s a crime.”

The sisters were arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of:

• Grand Theft
• Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft

Both later bonded out — but the sheriff’s office says the case is still active.

The Online Reaction: “Who Steals Two Full Carts in 2025?”

Social media reactions lit up almost instantly, with commenters unable to understand how the sisters expected to get away with it.

One user wrote:

“Two full carts?? Not a bag of makeup or a shirt — TWO CARTS??”

Another joked:

“At least pick a store without cameras every 10 feet. Target got 4K surveillance and loss-prevention ninjas.”

Others pointed out that retail theft has become so bold that employees barely react anymore — making Target’s quick response in this case a surprise.

But many commenters put the blame squarely on entitlement.

“They didn’t even pretend to care. ‘We can pay now.’ Girl, no. That’s not how crime works.”

A Case of Impulse or Something More?

Deputies say the pair insisted they could afford the items, which raises questions about motive.
Investigators noted that the sisters made their decision “in the moment,” suggesting it wasn’t pre-planned.

Still, the method — two carts, covered merchandise, bypassing registers — appears far from accidental.

Authorities say the boldness of the attempt is exactly why retail theft has become a major concern for Florida stores in recent years.

Do you think this was a reckless impulse, an entitled gamble, or a growing trend of bold retail theft?
Share your thoughts and join the conversation over at Chicagomusicguide.com, where we break down the stories everyone’s talking about.