Boca Raton Town Center Mall Worker Charged With Mass Theft From Hollister

BOND: $10,000.

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A store employee at Boca Raton Town Center Mall is facing multiple charges after a district manager — and police — say she stole more than $1000 worth of clothing. Marie Aviles, according to police, admitted to stealing from Hollister by wearing clothes out of the store and hiding other pieces — likely small pieces — in her water bottle. BocaNewsNow.com obtained the arrest report which we are publishing in its entirety.

>> I responded to 6000 W. Glades Rd. (Hollister) in Boca Raton, FL in reference to a theft investigation. Prior to arrival, Lance Nekolny, who is the Senior District Manager of Asset Protection advised dispatch over the course of a year and a half, an employee has been stealing merchandise from the store. Upon arrival, contact was made with the defendant, Marie Angelique Aviles and Lance in the loss prevention office. Lance advised he received an anonymous tip via their Ethics Hotline that Marie was stealing merchandise and began to conduct his own investigation.

Through his investigation he identified stashed merchandise that matched the defendant’s purchase history. Although no surveillance video is available, Lance determined several items had disappeared and were not accounted for. On today’s date prior to my arrival, Lance conducted an internal interview where the defendant voluntarily admitted to stealing approximately. $1,500.00 worth of merchandise between October 2023 – April 2025. A sworn written statement was provided by Lance. The defendant provided a written statement admitting to the theft of approximately 55 items of clothing over the course of her employment equaling to about $1,500.00.

The defendant completed the written statement and voluntarily returned home to retrieve some of the stolen merchandise. The defendant returned approximately 1 hour later with 26 items of merchandise. The items returned were various clothing itens such as bathing suits, underwear, skirts, shorts and shirts. The total amount: $750.70. A sworn written statement was provided by Lance.

I then spoke with the defendant and post Miranda from a department issued card, Marie confirned the above written statenents were freely and voluntarily given and once again admitted to the thefts. She provided me with a statement admitting to the theft of approximately $1,500.00 worth of merchandise over the course of October 2023-April 2025 by concealing them in her water bottle or wearing them out of the store. Understanding the consequences of her actions, Marie voluntarily retrieved sone of the stolen items from her home! and returned then. When asked why she stole the merchandise, she stated it was to save money on gifts, personal items and on occasions out of frustration. Approximately $755.00 in additional merchandise was unable to be returned as it was given away oI at another location.

Based on my investigation, I developed probable cause to charge the defendant with F.s.s 817.034(4) (a) (3) Organized Scheme to Defraud Less $20,000 as the defendant systematically over the course of 18 nonths intentionally obtained property under false pretenses and |F. S. S 812.014 Grand Theft. <<

Aviles, 21, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and later released on $10,000 bond. A court date is pending. Aviles says her home address is in Oviedo, FL.