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TERRI PARKER WPBF 25 NEWS TERRI. THANK YOU. NEW VIDEO TONIGHT. YOU’LL SEE ONLY ON WPBF 25 NEWS. A REALITY TV COUPLE ARRESTED OUTSIDE A BOCA RATON PUBLIX ACCUSED OF STEALING MORE THAN $5,000 WORTH OF GROCERIES. IT IS A SCHEME POLICE SAY WENT ON FOR MONTHS AS THE COUPLE FROM THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF PRETORIA ALLEGEDLY TOOK HUNDREDS OF ITEMS THEY DIDN’T PAY FOR. REPORTER RACHEL PERRY HAS THE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO AS OFFICERS TAKE THE COUPLE INTO CUSTODY. POLICE SAY THE COUPLE HIT THIS PUBLIX AGAIN AND AGAIN MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES IN JUST SEVEN MONTHS, WALKING AWAY WITH NEARLY 400 ITEMS THEY DIDN’T PAY FOR. MELANIE. HEY, STEFAN. DEPARTMENT. COME ON. STEP ON OUT FOR US, PLEASE. THAT’S MELANIE VIGLIONE. AND HER HUSBAND, PETROS. OR PETE. PETROS. THE COUPLE IS KNOWN FOR APPEARING ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN REALITY SHOW REAL HOUSEWIVES OF PRETORIA. I’M DETECTIVE WILLIAMSON, ALL RIGHT. I’M WITH THE BOCA POLICE DEPARTMENT. I’M INVESTIGATING A CRIME THAT’S BEEN OCCURRING SINCE AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. SO THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE BEING ARRESTED FOR. BUT NOW THEY’RE BEHIND BARS, ACCUSED OF STEALING MORE THAN $5,000 IN GROCERIES FROM THIS BOCA RATON PUBLIX. HAVE A SEAT. FOR RECORDS SHOW OVER THE SPAN OF SEVEN MONTHS, THEY TOOK ROUGHLY 400 ITEMS FROM PUBLIX THAT THEY DIDN’T PAY FOR, INCLUDING SPARKLING WATER, SODA, FRUIT, TOILET PAPER AND MORE. POLICE SAY SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS AND TRANSACTION REVIEWS SHOWED THE PAIR USING A METHOD CALLED TICKET SWITCHING. THAT’S WHERE CHEAPER BARCODES ARE SCANNED INSTEAD OF THE MORE EXPENSIVE ITEMS. AND ACCORDING TO THE ARREST REPORT, THE COUPLE WORKED TOGETHER WITH PETE DISTRACTING EMPLOYEES. WHILE MELANIE FAILED TO SCAN ITEMS DESPITE MELANIE CLAIMING SHE ACTED ALONE. BOTH WERE ARRESTED. WE DO KNOW THEY’RE FROM SOUTH AFRICA, AND JAIL RECORDS SHOW THEY’RE NOW BEING HELD I
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WATCH: Bodycam shows Florida police arrest ‘Real Housewives’ couple
Bodycam footage shows the arrests of a husband and wife known for appearing on the South African reality show “The Real Housewives of Pretoria.”According to court records, Petrus “Peet” Viljoen and Melany Viljoen were arrested on March 10, 2026, following a traffic stop involving their black Range Rover. Police say the vehicle matched the one seen in store surveillance videos during a number of alleged thefts.Boca Raton police say the couple stole more than $5,300 worth of groceries from a Publix grocery store over several months. According to court records, the nearly 400 items include things like sparkling water, soda, fruit, toilet paper, and more.Investigators say they obtained surveillance videos and transaction reviews showing the pair using a method called “ticket switching,” in which cheaper barcodes are scanned instead of the more expensive items. Despite Melany claiming she acted alone, police say they worked together, with Peet sometimes distracting employees while Melany failed to scan items. The husband and wife were booked in the Palm Beach County Jail on a charge of aggravated grand retail theft over $3,000. Jail records show they’ve since been transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Melany is being held at the Broward Transitional Center, and Peet is being held at the Florida Soft Side South facility, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Bodycam footage shows the arrests of a husband and wife known for appearing on the South African reality show “The Real Housewives of Pretoria.”
According to court records, Petrus “Peet” Viljoen and Melany Viljoen were arrested on March 10, 2026, following a traffic stop involving their black Range Rover. Police say the vehicle matched the one seen in store surveillance videos during a number of alleged thefts.
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Boca Raton police say the couple stole more than $5,300 worth of groceries from a Publix grocery store over several months. According to court records, the nearly 400 items include things like sparkling water, soda, fruit, toilet paper, and more.
Investigators say they obtained surveillance videos and transaction reviews showing the pair using a method called “ticket switching,” in which cheaper barcodes are scanned instead of the more expensive items.
Despite Melany claiming she acted alone, police say they worked together, with Peet sometimes distracting employees while Melany failed to scan items. The husband and wife were booked in the Palm Beach County Jail on a charge of aggravated grand retail theft over $3,000.
Jail records show they’ve since been transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Melany is being held at the Broward Transitional Center, and Peet is being held at the Florida Soft Side South facility, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
