South African Reality TV Couple Arrested in Florida for Alleged Supermarket Theft Scheme

A South African reality television couple has been arrested in Florida, accused of orchestrating a months-long theft scheme at a local supermarket.

Melany “Mel” Viljoen and her husband, Petrus “Peet” Viljoen, who appear on the show The Real Housewives of Pretoria, were taken into custody on March 10, 2026, in Boca Raton. They face charges of aggravated grand retail theft, according to police records.

An affidavit from the Boca Raton Police Department details an alleged scheme targeting a Publix supermarket on South Federal Highway. Investigators say the couple visited the store 52 times between August 2025 and February 2026.

Authorities allege the Viljoens employed a tactic known as “ticket switching” during visits to the self-checkout. Police say surveillance footage and transaction records show them either scanning less expensive barcodes for their items or failing to scan goods altogether, allowing them to leave with full carts of unpaid groceries.

Police have identified 392 items the couple allegedly did not pay for, including sparkling water, soda, fruit, and toilet paper. The total loss to the store is estimated at $5,302 (approximately R88,000).

According to the arrest report, the couple sometimes worked in tandem, with Peet allegedly distracting store employees while Mel scanned lower-priced items or bypassed scanning other products.

When questioned by investigators, Mel reportedly explained her actions as being in “survival mode,” stating she was unable to work in the U.S. without a valid visa. Her husband, Peet, denied any involvement in the alleged ticket-switching scheme.

The Viljoens were each held on a $10,000 (R165 000) bond and face felony charges. The Boca Raton Police Department stated that the case remains under active investigation.See more, details. .