A family-run restaurant say they still haven’t tracked down a ‘dine and dash’ couple who allegedly ran off without paying their bill.
The unscrupulous pair are said to have fled Belluno, an Italian restaurant in Newton St Cyres, Devon, on Thursday 9 January, without settling the £83 they owed for their meal. The restaurant’s owners said they felt like they had “no other option” but to post CCTV screenshots showing the the pair on Facebook – and told the Mirror they wanted to make sure other restaurants “know their faces”. He said the couple went for their second cigarette break of the evening around 10.10pm, before failing to return inside to pay their bill.
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The couple are alleged to have left the restaurant without paying their £83 bill
The owners have urged anyone who recognises the couple to come forward so they can alert other local businesses and the police. In the pair of CCTV still images, the man appears to be wearing a grey jumper, while the woman is wearing a knitted cap and a white fleece. One of the women left behind a bag with a pair of broken headphones and hat inside.
Yiannis K. Ntoi, 29, who was in charge of the restaurant at the time of the incident, explained that the customers had been sat at the table and had finished their meal when they went for a cigarette break – but failed to return. Recalling the moment staff realised the couple were gone, he said: “One of my colleagues went out for a cigarette, but he came back in and told us – ‘they’re gone’. The couple had already been for a cigarette break before, and one of them had left their bag at the table, so we didn’t suspect anything. We had customers on two other tables in at the time, both regulars.”
One week on, the two people in the image still haven’t been found, he said – and Yiannis said he was now more bothered about making sure everyone is “aware” and “knows the faces” of the two alleged dine-and-dashers if they choose to visit them next. Devon and Cornwall Police have been approached for comment.
In their first appeal to the community, Belluno Italian Restaurant – Newton St Cyres, wrote on Facebook this week: “We love being part of the friendly community here, but last night this couple come and eat at Belluno and they did a ‘runner’ after the pretending they are smoking. We completely understand that lots of people are struggling with the cost of living, but we work really hard as a family business and stealing from anyone never mind a business is just not acceptable. Their bill was £83.45. If anyone know these people please let us know.”
Members of the tight-knit local community spoke of their shock at the incident – and blasted the couple for allegedly hurting the small business. One wrote: “I’ve never been, but I’ll book our family in. It won’t undo what’s been done but hopefully will drive a little turnover”. Another said: “This is appalling, so many businesses are struggling. Soon we will need to pay before we eat. What is wrong with people, they don’t look hard up!”.
Others recommended to the owners that they begin charging a deposit for the meals, or ask customers to pay as they order. But Yiannis said he doesn’t want to do ask for payment upfront as it would punish loyal customers, telling the Mirror: “No, that would cause stress to all of our customers because of this one incident. When you go out with your family, you want to eat, drink and enjoy your time together – you don’t expect to be just treated like money.”
A spokesperson from Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police are aware of an incident where two individuals left Belluno restaurant in Newton St Cyres without paying their bill on Thursday 9 January. It was reported the man and woman went outside for a cigarette and failed to return after ordering food and drinks. Enquiries into this matter are ongoing. Anyone with any information that may assist investigating officers is asked to call police on 101 or visit our website quoting 50250009486.”