In the United States and in Florida, we can't put handcuffs on you and bring you down here unless we don't have enough evidence. >> A routine traffic stop unravels months of calculated planning. The couple played the self-checkout machines like a game, slipping away with over $5,300 in stolen loot. >> Say Alpha 237 final stop 550 South Ocean. >> Alpha 237 final stop 550 South Ocean. >> Well, how are you doing today? So, the reason I pulled you over today is cuz the registered owner of this vehicle does not have a license, so >> He does not have a license. >> Yeah, he does not have a license on file, so I'm assuming you're not the registered owner, but could I just get your information? >> My wife is We are from South Africa. >> Okay. >> I just pick up my license. I'm from I'm from South Africa, but we have a international driver's license. >> That's okay. Uh and just one thing I need from you, could I just get a current address for >> Yeah, it's um the pink building down the corner. >> Okay. That's okay. So, I'm just going to have you step out of the car really quick. On your way out, can you do me a favor and just leave the shoulder bag on the seat? >> I just want to go for a walk. >> Sorry, just can you just wait for me? You can always ask him if he has any needles, anything that's going to stick you, prick you. Okay, nothing? Nothing on you? >> Nothing on me. >> All right, good. There we go. Can you just step in here, okay? >> We got to get you to step in here. >> 400 Northwest 48th Street 400 Northwest 48th 400 Northwest Romeo Sierra Foxtrot 57 RSN >> How's that feel? >> 57 on a black SUV 110 >> Were the keys in the car, correct? >> They're inside. >> Okay. >> 400 Northwest 48th Street 400 Northwest 48th Street 400 Northwest >> I'm just closing it. >> They're going to do the photo. >> Good job, brother. Thank you very much for your >> Um >> See you in here from the Broward All right. >> Uh Pete >> Yeah. >> I'm going to take you out. I'm going to search you one more time. >> All right. And then uh Detective Walker is going to I'm sorry. Detective Williamson. Sorry, that's the other one. Um is going to uh walk you in, okay? Uh we'll walk in together. But I have time. All right. Come on out. Do you need help? >> Uh-uh. I'm good. >> You're good? Okay. Just turn around and uh face the car one more time. Pete, Pete, Pete. You go by Pete or >> Pete. >> Pete. Okay. I'm Detective Williamson. All right. Obviously, I'm with the Boca Raton Police Department. I'm investigating a crime that's been occurring since August of last year. Uh so, that's what you're being arrested for. It's uh for retail theft. All right. So, what's going to happen is we're going to take you back to our We're going to take you back to our uh our headquarters and we're going to sit there. We're going to have have a conversation. All right. And then you'll be transported to the Palm Beach Um going to see if we can get this picked up for you. If not, it's going to be towed, okay? Um you're going to He's He's transporting? >> Yeah. He doesn't have a working computer, so we're going to have to do the photo set. Okay. >> Yeah. He said He said she'll >> she'll He said she'll open the door. He said she's she'll she'll open the door and >> It's weird. It's like a rock garden, but you can't get to it. >> You want to uh Melanie? Hey, step on out, open up your front door, please, for me. Come on, step on out for us, please. >> Hello. >> How are you? Come on. Step on out for us. >> I don't know. Right here, come on. >> Go turn off. >> I appreciate you turning it off. We'll explain everything in a second. >> Can I call my husband? >> We'll explain everything in a second. >> Ma'am, is there any animals or children or anything in the home? >> No. >> I'm sorry? >> No. >> Okay. Okay. Can we get you some shoes? Okay. Uh, you just hit the top button. >> just hit the top button. >> Okay. >> Okay. What? Yeah. >> Oh. >> Yeah, I got them over here at the left. >> Watch your step. Uh, I parked over here. If you could just put your palms together, please. Thanks. >> you back to our our headquarters. >> Okay, got you. What's that accent? >> It's South African. >> South African. Oh, okay. Is that where you're from? >> Yeah. >> That's what the passport uh the permit was? Okay. How long you've been here? >> Uh about 8 months now. >> 8 months? >> Yeah. >> From South Africa to the US, why? >> We we I'm relocating. >> Okay. >> Um, in South Africa it's really bad now. White genocide going on. >> Oh. >> Um, our company was just like taken from us with I guess and stuff. >> Your company? >> My company, yeah. >> What kind of company did you have? >> Uh, retail and we did um uh nail salons. We had 300 nail salon franchises. >> In South Africa? >> Africa, yeah. >> Oh, wow. >> Yeah. >> And so, all of that was taken from you? >> Yeah. >> Why was it taken? Like, just >> It It There's a law now that says that the government can take your property. A literal law. >> Really? >> Yeah, it's it's it's the things going on there is really, really bad. >> Okay. Do you guys have any family here in the in the US, or you just decided >> So, we we we we at this point we've applied for EB-1 visa. >> Okay. >> Um, we plan to move our company. What we do is something unique. It's It's acrylic nails, and we were the first people to put diamonds in it, and we patented that. So, we're moving that business to the US. >> To the US. Have you started yet? >> Well, we we can't start working until we have a work permit, but all our documentation is filed. >> Okay. So, is that the only thing you did over in South Africa? Just the, um, the nail business? >> The nail business. >> Okay. >> That's what what I did. >> What Okay, that's what you >> The last 15 years, yeah. >> Last 15 years. Okay. Like I said, this morning I was in the in the, um, field. We're investigating some Publix thefts that have been occurring here, okay? Where you and a and a counterpart, I'm assuming your wife, goes in the Publix, and you you scan some seasoning packets and and other items, right? That's not the items that you're scanning, right? Does that sound familiar? >> No. >> Okay. All right. I have some things that I want to show you. >> Okay. >> And then I'll maybe it'll jog your memory, okay? What does your wife do? >> She ran the businesses with me. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, we do nothing until we have a permit. >> Here, you do nothing? >> We do nothing until we have a permit. >> Okay. So, how are you making your money here? >> We have money. >> Oh, you have money from from >> From South Africa, yeah. >> This is from October 25th. I'm sorry, October 3rd, 2025. Picture of a male and female. >> Yeah. >> Who's that? >> That's me and my wife in the back. >> Okay, and what are you doing there? >> We're probably shopping. It's a shopping cart. >> Okay, it's a shopping cart. >> Probably, yeah. >> Okay, and you don't know where that is either. >> You asking where that is. I I could be in I could be anywhere with a You asking me whether I recognize the trolley. Which I don't. >> Okay. All right. This one is from August 29th, 2025. >> Okay, guys. This This shows me with a shopping cart at a probably Publix. If you want to know, Publix could be. >> Okay, cool. So, you saw the video you saw the pictures, which you you confirmed is you. That's fine. Okay, so now I have some videos I want to show you. Okay? So, before I start it >> You you guys have a self-scan system. >> Mhm. Which is why which it which makes it easy to do what you guys did, right? >> What did we do? >> So, if you look here right, you have some shampoo. The shampoo's already in there. You're scanning the shampoo. >> How can you see that? >> Oh, it's easy. Just wait. >> I think you guys are on a fishing trip. >> Mhm. >> We have a system where you scan stuff. If there's an error, there's an error. Uh the people can sue us, but this is a fishing trip, so I think you want me to admit certain stuff, which is not didn't happen. >> Okay. >> So, um I I I really think this is a misunderstanding if anything or a lack of of knowing the the scanning system. It's new for us. Um if if there's an error on the scanner then that's that's on Publix. >> But there's an error on the scanner. Okay, so what about the times when you did just didn't pay for stuff? You just walked out. >> No, no, I've never not paid for stuff. >> Okay, right. So here's the thing. Here's the thing. Whether you did it or not at this point doesn't even matter, right? Cuz I have my video, I have my evidence. I'm just trying to figure out why. You guys are South African, you guys clearly have money, like you said, right? You came here for a better life. This this doesn't seem like a better life. >> I'm telling you now that that if there's an item you you didn't show me anything like you show me where my wife is talking to the guy from Publix. >> Mhm. >> Paying for stuff and then I walk out. >> Your wife paid for one item. You never entered the scan the the self-checkout is what you're not understanding. >> If if you go through everything, you'll see that my wife gets irritated with me and mostly she checks everything and scans everything and the guys there help her. >> Okay, but you never entered the self-checkout is what I'm what is what I'm telling you. I just showed you the video where you never entered the self-checkout. >> checked out checked in with checkout with that trolley of stuff. >> No, you didn't. No This video does not show you entering self-checkout at all. >> Okay, I'm I'm trying to just fit the blocks. This is very overwhelming. >> Okay. >> We don't intend to steal. I if I if if what you are saying is true, it must have been a misunderstanding. We I thought my wife paid for it. >> Okay. Okay. Do you have any questions? >> I don't really know the case, so >> Cuz this is a misunderstanding over what? Bottle of water. So >> This is a $5,000 misunderstanding. >> A $5,000 >> this since August. >> You are You are showing me videos of where we scan and pay for stuff. >> I'm showing you video. course, yes, scanned and paid for what you wanted to pay for. I'm showing you videos of things that you've taken without paying for as well. >> But you show me two people from a from an angle >> Mhm. >> paying and scanning for stuff. You're not showing me where I'm picking up something and and scanning it wrong and placing it in a basket. >> Okay. >> Especially when there's video to corroborate that. >> $1,000 is a lot of money, guys. >> You know that. That's why we're that's why we're here. >> We're not here because we picked you and your wife out of this We don't We don't want autographs, right? We know We don't We don't We don't want that. >> No, I'm not stealing anything from Publix. >> Okay. That's that's your story and you're sticking to it, huh? >> All right, so two passports, Louis Vuitton case Mont Blanc glasses. >> a second. You're going to pick that up. >> Sorry. >> Thank you, man. Do you see any Publix receipts? Go ahead and grab that. >> Yeah. So, I mean so you're going to take those, the receipts >> as evidence. >> Okay. >> So, um >> So. >> start off with So, the on the front, just write glasses. Do you know what brand that is for sure? Can you say for sure that that's Mont Blanc? Does it say Mont Blanc anywhere on it? >> That's Yeah. >> There you go. Mont Blanc glasses. So keep your camera rolling. I'm going to see if I have an evidence bag. >> Okay. >> Okay. Are there any other ones in there? >> Yeah. >> Do I need to Do I need to look? >> I'm just going to lock Once I'm finished, I'll let you know. All right. >> The glove box, it looks like there's snacks. What You could write uh vehicle vehicle paperwork. And snacks. >> Should I start a new like like >> Yeah. I mean you could write uh >> purse or >> But that was on him, so >> Okay. >> So like bag, personal bag. >> What's that? LV, so that's a Louis Vuitton bag with wallet. >> Okay. >> Um >> Phone. >> If it's Phone. Uh I mean I would assume he'd want his phone. >> Yeah. >> Would it surprise you if he's doing this, too? >> No, no, no. I'm not I'm not He never had anything to do with it. >> But I'm saying would it surprise you for you to see him doing this himself? >> So Um you can't see him, but Um That's him. In the blue shirt. Same as the photo that I showed that I showed you. He comes to the self-checkout. >> But he's scanning everything. >> He's not. So if you look, he picked up two items. He's very slick with Like I said, he's very slick with He picks up two items, and that's why he looked around like that because he wanted to see where that where that teller went. And then what he's going to He's going to give the teller something. They're like, "Hey, I don't I don't want this or this won't scan." or something like that. He speaks to the teller. "This won't scan." or something like that. He's trying to scan the potatoes as or the Yeah, the potatoes as some type of meat, but it doesn't go through. >> But it looks fine. >> Yeah, it looks fine from here. But it's not. And that's the thing, too. Data doesn't >> you know it's not? >> I was just about to say data doesn't lie, right? So they Publics has gone through, and they they have an inventory. You guys own a business over in South Africa. You know how inventory works. If something's missing, something ain't right, right? So they're going to go back, and they Publics went back, and they're like, "Something's not right. Why are we getting so much seasoning sales? We don't even sell this much seasoning sales on a regular basis. What is going on, right?" They went back, and every seasoning sale that they were that was suspicious to to had your card number. >> I honestly just don't think that he did anything wrong. >> Okay. Was he aware of your finances? >> I usually shop. I do the payments. I tell him it's go. You I don't see him doing anything wrong. >> Okay. And he passes you his phone to do to use his card on his phone. Okay. And you're just assuming that he's just assuming that, "Hey, >> Yes. >> payment's done." >> Yeah. >> Knowing that there's no money in the bank. >> No, no. There's money in the bank. >> Okay. >> With enough money in the bank. >> If you're not working, you say you still have money from from home? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> We have enough money from home. >> What do you guys do here? >> We can't work yet. >> You don't work at all? >> Not yet. >> Okay. So, what have you been doing for the last 8 months since you've been here? >> Studying. >> Studying. What do you study? >> Studying law, studying um you know, clip Taste, do you know clip? >> No. >> like college points. >> Oh, no. I've never heard of that. >> Um so that we can get a waiting for the work permits. >> Okay. How far in the process are you guys? >> It's any day now. >> Any day now. Okay. Well, listen. I truly hope that this doesn't affect your work permit, but I also hope that if it does not affect your work permit, you turn around. And you actually be a good person that you can be. Right? You like she said, you don't look like a bad person. You seem like a really nice person, right? It happens. It It has happened. Let's move forward. I don't want to see your name on another PC. Okay? You want some more of that water because you're not going to be able to take it with you. So, you want to drink some more of the water? Okay. I'm just saying it's hard to see someone you love go through >> But if you have evidence of me doing anything. I mean You say really evidence? >> Yeah, there's a lot. >> But I'm mis-scanning anything? >> Yeah, so in in the United States and in Florida, we can't put handcuffs on you and bring you down here unless we don't have enough evidence to >> I see. All righty. So, we're going to take you over to the the jail the cell over there. The cuffs are >> Only to walk through. >> The couple worked together in a 6-month scheme, allegedly stealing over $5,300 in merchandise. Both were charged with aggravated grand retail theft over $3,000 under Florida law.