Boca Raton, Florida. – Melanie and Petrus Viljoen, stars of the reality series real housewives of pretoriaA man has been arrested for shoplifting after allegedly stealing more than $5,000 worth of groceries from a Publix store in Boca Raton.
Melanie, 39, and Petrus, 57, were taken into custody during a traffic stop on Tuesday, March 10. They were each charged with theft in connection with the theft of more than $5,300 worth of groceries over a period of several months from August 2025 to March 2026.
According to Boca Raton police, Viljoen was caught on surveillance footage using “ticket-switching” tactics to scan cheaper barcodes for more expensive items at the store. In addition to bypassing the self-checkout lane, investigators noted that the couple left the store with full carts, leaving 392 items unscanned. Surveillance footage and transaction records confirmed the plan, in which Melanie and Petrus were working in coordination, with Petrus allegedly distracting employees while Melanie handled the thefts.
The couple reportedly admitted their involvement in the theft, although Melanie initially claimed that she carried out the theft alone. However, police reports show that evidence points to their joint effort, with Petrus playing a key role in providing distraction while his wife carried out the theft.
Melanie and Petrus Viljoen are being held on $10,000 bond each. The charges stem from a pattern of stealing groceries using deceptive methods at multiple public locations, which had significant financial consequences for the stores.
The arrest has shocked fans, many of whom have followed the couple’s life on the popular reality show. Fans and critics alike grappled with the serious allegations as the case unfolded. Viljoen’s legal team has not yet commented on the allegations.