US Edition'The Real Housewives of Pretoria' couple arrested in Palm Beach County for theft
Mel and Peet Viljoen allegedly stole $5,302 worth of groceries over six months using ticket-switching and self-checkout schemes, claiming survival mode after moving to the U.S. without work visas.
- On March 10, 2026, Petrus 'Peet' Jacobus Viljoen and Melany Viljoen were taken into custody following a traffic stop involving their black Range Rover in Boca Raton, facing charges for alleged retail theft.
- After fleeing South Africa last year, the Viljoens allegedly visited the Boca Raton Publix at 1001 South Federal Highway dozens of times from August 2025 to early March 2026 in a six‑month scheme.
- Security footage showed the pair using 'ticket switching' at self‑checkout lanes, with Publix data analysts and police reviewing 52 transactions and identifying 392 unpaid items including La Marca Prosecco and Coca‑Cola Zero.
- They were booked into the Main Detention Center, West Palm Beach, and released on $10,000 bond each; the case joins South African investigations into their franchise disputes and alleged fraud.
- Their public profile as reality TV figures from the Real Housewives of Pretoria, with prior Tammy Taylor disputes and Peet Viljoen disbarment, influences public perception amid controversy.
16 Articles
16 Articles
South Africa: The Viljoens - From 'Real Housewives Fame' in South Africa to U.S. 'Shoplifting' Bubbly
Melany and Peet Viljoen are no strangers to the limelight. And to controversy. The South African couple featured in a local reality TV show, they back the 'white genocide' lie, and they moved to the US... where they now face charges for allegedly stealing items including bubbly and toilet paper.
South African Reality TV Couple Arrested in Florida
A South African reality TV couple started scamming supermarkets after they moved to Florida last year, authorities say. Mel Viljoen, 39, and her husband, Peet Viljoen, 57, who appeared on Real Housewives of Pretoria , were arrested on Tuesday and accused of stealing more than $5,300 in items from a...
Reality TV Couple Arrested in Alleged $5K Grocery Theft Scheme
A South African reality television couple known for their appearances on The Real Housewives of Pretoria have been arrested in the United States and charged with a months‑long grocery theft scheme that saw them allegedly steal more than $5,300 (£3,970) worth of goods from a Florida supermarket. The case has drawn widespread attention due to the couple's television fame and the unusual nature of the alleged offences. Arrest in Boca Raton After Al…
Mel and Peet Viljoen from 'The Real Housewives of Pretoria' arrested for shoplifting in the US
Reality TV stars Mel and Peet Viljoen, known for their appearances on 'The Real Housewives of Pretoria', have found themselves in legal trouble after being arrested in Boca Raton for theft, claiming they were in 'survival mode'.
Peet and Melany Viljoen 'arrested for shoplifting in America'
Real Housewives of Pretoria star Mel Viljoen and her husband Peet were reportedly arrested in the United States of America earlier this week after allegedly confessing to stealing for survival. The Viljoen couple first came under the spotlight for complaints about their Tammy Taylor nail brand and franchisees in South Africa, who claimed to have lost millions while doing business with the couple. The Viljoens fled South Africa for the US in Jul…
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