A South African reality TV couple has been arrested in Palm Beach County, Florida for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in groceries from a local store.
According to the Boca Raton Police Department, Petrus ‘Peet’ Viljoen and Melany Viljoen, stars of the reality show Real Housewives of Pretoria, were taken into custody on March 10, 2026 following a traffic stop involving their black Range Rover, which matched surveillance footage from the store.
Investigators allege the couple repeatedly visited the Publix between August 2025 and early March 2026, stealing groceries using methods such as ticket switching, substituting cheaper barcodes for more expensive items, and bypassing self-checkout scanning.
Police and Publix analysts reviewed 52 transactions, identifying 392 unpaid items including sparkling water, soda, fruit, and toilet paper. Total losses were reported at $5,302.17.
The affidavit states that Peet and Melany worked in coordination: Peet would sometimes distract employees while Melany failed to scan items, and in some cases Peet allegedly pushed carts past checkout without paying. Both were charged with aggravated grand retail theft over $3,000.
Officers reported that the couple admitted to being the individuals seen on surveillance footage, although Melany claimed she acted alone. Police said the evidence did not support her claim.
