A Scottish restaurant, La Dolce Vita in East Kilbride, has released images of a couple 'dining and storming' and dodging an £80 note. On October 20, the couple enjoyed an extensive three-course meal, ordering two starters, three main courses and two desserts. However, instead of paying the bill, they slyly left the premises, as if they were going out for a cigarette. The surveillance footage shows the man and woman smoking outside before leaving separately. In an attempt to deceive the staff, the woman left her handbag behind, suggesting she would return. However, upon investigation, the bag was found to be empty, exposing the couple's deceptive plan.
The restaurant is now trying to identify the couple and recover the stolen money.
Here's the video:
A spokesperson for the restaurant said they were “angry and annoyed” about the situation.
Co-owner Heather Scuotto, told the Daily record: ''It's just sickening, we're absolutely furious. We are a small family business, we have been open for 10 years and moved to this new restaurant five years ago. We understand that in the current climate people may struggle to afford a meal out, but this was pre-planned. They walked outside and left an empty handbag there. The police think it's all part of their deception. It's horrible to think they would come to a restaurant with that in mind.”
Police Scotland said: “At around 5.45pm on Sunday, October 20, police received a report of theft from a property in the Main Street area of East Kilbride. The investigation into the circumstances is at an early stage.”
The La Dolce Vita incident is not an isolated incident, it follows a similar series of 'dine and dash' offenses earlier this year. In one notable case, Bernard McDonagh, 41, and Ann McDonagh, 39, a married couple from Sandfields, Port Talbot, Wales, were jailed after admitting leaving restaurants without bills worth more than 1,000 pounds (Rs 1.05. 857) to be paid. According to BBC, Bernard and Ann McDonagh went to five restaurants in the Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Porthcawl areas of Wales and ran up bills worth more than £1,000 before leaving without paying.
Judge Paul Thomas KC said they were motivated by “pure and utter greed” and that the dine and dash incidents were “carefully pre-planned according to a specific pattern”. The use of their children, who waited in the restaurants pretending to go to an ATM, was “ruthlessly exploitative”, the judge added.