From dropping plucked-out hair into dishes to emergency nappy changes, suspected “dine and dash” incidents at restaurants and pubs are coming up with more elaborate and sophisticated ways to evade detection as police struggle to solve the crimes.
Police chiefs describe the damaging offences as “largely opportunistic”, but an analysis of thousands of logged reports up and down the country by The Independent shows the extent of planning and the brazen attitude taken by alleged offenders.
And it is an offence that almost all appear to be getting away with. Just 3 per cent of 2,137 reported cases of “making off without payment” at pubs and restaurants over the past two years have led to people being charged, according to the data obtained from 22 police forces in England and Wales.
It’s led to restaurant bosses being forced to take action, with some taking pre-payment for meals in a bid to protect themselves in an already difficult climate of rising food prices and increased rates and employment costs.
Planting food in a dish
“My mouth dropped, it was absolutely unbelievable,” said Jez Hives, manager at The Dial Restaurant, when he viewed back CCTV after a customer claimed hair was in his food, before walking out with his suspected accomplice without paying their £165 bill for steaks and cocktails.
“I watched it and I saw him pick hair from his head three times, sprinkling it in his food as he went along, before taking his food up to complain. I thought ‘how could he have done that?’ It really took me and the staff back to see the length people will go to get free food.”
Mr Hives said the incident, still being investigated by Staffordshire Police, had also taken a toll on his workers. “It’s the young staff here; they feel responsible and guilty for someone else stealing food. It’s the impact on them I worry about more than the cost,” he said.
Other incidents across the country appear as deceitful, with suspects creating distractions to get away.
Changing a baby’s nappy
In Cleveland, one report logged stated two men and two women with a baby ordered food and drink totalling £133 at a restaurant, before the two women walked outside to change the baby’s nappy. They were later followed by the two men, all of whom then left in a car without paying.
The investigation was closed without any suspect identified.
In Staffordshire, CCTV allegedly caught a member of a group of four diners putting Rizla cigarette rolling paper in their food, before then complaining and refusing, along with the rest of the party, to pay. Logs show many suspected “dine and dashers” use the same tactic, but with fingernails, plastic and even glass.
In many cases, suspected offenders flee after going outside for a vape or a cigarette. Some say they are going outside to their vehicle to get cash after their card has been declined or lost. Others refuse outright to pay and brazenly walk out.
In West Mercia, police recorded a couple walking into a pub and ordering “the most expensive dishes” before later running out of the front door without paying their £230 tab. The case was closed after no suspects were identified.
Being sick on the table
In West Yorkshire, a large family ran up a big food bill before one of the women “puts her fingers down her throat and is sick on the table and outside”. The family then left, according to a reported case which was closed after no suspect was identified.
Sometimes money is given, but it only covers part of the bill.
In Ellesmere in Cheshire, a family allegedly ran up a £100.70p bill at TGI Friday before paying 70p on a card and fleeing without paying the rest of the balance.
Some offenders not only target the business, but also the staff.
Swearing at staff
In Norfolk, a man allegedly stood up halfway through his meal and shouted “[this] is not Thai, it’s f****** Chinese”. He then warned the boss he would leave a bad review before failing to remember the PIN for his card when paying. He then walked out without paying. The case was closed by police without the suspect being identified.
At Relentless Steak and Lobster House in Portsmouth, owner Scott Matthews told The Independent he had to introduce pre-pay for drinks and starters after being stung by a series of costly thefts. But even then, he said he was still being targeted.
In January, two men allegedly paid for £130 worth of food, before ordering several more rounds of cocktails, oyster and scallops – adding up to another £170 – and then walked out.
“I’ve seen it all,” said Mr Matthews. “From those running away to having a vape outside to those leaving a £17 Primark jacket on the chair to make out they haven’t gone. It’s truly shocking because this isn’t a victimless crime. There are staff here it impacts, and a business to run.
“We tell the police, but even when we hand over CCTV, we don’t think they will get caught. It’s down to use to try to protect our business, our staff.”
Catching those responsible is a problem laid bare by the police figures obtained through a freedom of information request.
Of the 2,137 reported offences, no suspect was identified in 1,320 cases. In a further 201 cases, a suspect was named, but due to reasons such as the victim not supporting prosecution, the case was dropped.
In just 65 cases (3 per cent), a person was charged, while in 45, a community resolution, a type of out-of-court disposal, was served.
Those caught include Bernard and Ann McDonagh, who were jailed for a string of “dine and dash” offences at restaurants in South Wales after racking up bills totalling more than £1,100. The judge in the case said the couple’s use of children to wait in the restaurants, who would then run off, while pretending to go to a cashpoint, was “ruthlessly exploitative”.
Trade body UKHospitality claimed a third of operators had suffered a “dine and dash” incident, with almost half reporting that the situation was worsening.
Chair Kate Nicholls said: “Customers leaving without paying is completely unacceptable and places further strain on hospitality businesses already operating under significant pressure. This is not a victimless crime – it directly impacts businesses and can put staff in difficult and sometimes unsafe situations.”
A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesperson said: “We know that theft can have a significant impact on individuals, businesses and communities, which is why policing is committed to tackling all forms of this criminality.
“Dine and dash type offences are largely opportunistic in nature, and we would encourage all business owners and staff to make sure that when they do happen, they are reported so their local force can take action. While policing will always follow all possible lines of enquiry to identify and pursue offenders, any tools like CCTV can greatly assist with this.”
