‘Real Housewives of Pretoria’ stars Mel and Peet Viljoen arrested for shoplifting in US

Real Housewives of Pretoria star Mel and her husband, Peet Viljoen, were arrested in the US on Tuesday for allegedly shoplifting groceries worth over $5,300 (about R88,000).

Boca Raton Police confirmed that they were arrested for ticket switching at a Publix grocery store. 

This is a form of retail fraud in which a thief removes the price tag or barcode from a cheap item and places it on a higher-value item. 

Police said Mel confessed to the crime, stating “she was stealing because she was in survival mode and had not worked since coming to the US due to not having a visa.”

“Over the course of the last six months, the Viljoens have worked in concert during multiple acts of retail theft,” the arrest report read.

Surveillance footage and records showed that the couple had made off with $5,300 worth of groceries.

The couple was reportedly booked at the Main Detention Center in West Palm Beach, each facing an organised retail theft felony charge with a bond of $10,000 respectively.

The couple relocated to the US following several controversies, including significant legal issues after they were sued by Tammy Taylor for $100 million.

They were accused of stealing her identity and continuing to sell franchises using her name long after their license had expired.

Multiple South African franchisees also sued the couple, alleging they paid hundreds of thousands of rands for salons that they never received.