According to Netwerk24, De Villiers had grown suspicious of a man who was seemingly slipping sweets into his pockets before walking out of The Boer & Butcher on 23 January.
Store owner Edu Hanekom said that De Villiers and his wife Marlie, who are regular customers, were at the checkout when the well-known former Springbok and Stormers captain first spotted the man acting suspiciously.
Screenshots from surveillance footage show the 41-year-old – who is still in top shape – running after the suspect, before returning and handing him over to security.



Netwerk24 also quoted a voice note from De Villiers to his wife describing how he “watched him the whole time without him seeing that I was watching him”.
“And when I looked again, he just slowly started walking out. And when he walked out, I also slowly walked behind him,” he told his spouse.
“When I said ‘hey’ he looked around and started running. Then I just said to myself, but I must also run now. And then I ran out of my sandals and glasses and finally across the road.”
Hanekom praised the quick thinking of De Villiers, who successfully brought the perpetrator back to the shop.
“We are very grateful for Jean’s actions. It was quite a thing when a former Springbok rugby captain arrived with the thief,” Hanekom said.
PICTURES: Former Springbok apprehends suspected shoplifter (thesouthafrican.com)