A RESTAURANT has posted CCTV mugshots of customers they claim did a “dine and dash”.
Broth3rs, an Italian family-run restaurant, say the trio tucked into a two-course late-night dinner, praised the food as “wonderful”, and then tried to leave one-by-one.
Cristian Cojocaru, owner of the restaurant in Perth, claims the last man to sneak out picked up a steak knife when challenged by suspicious staff.
So after reporting the matter to police, Cristian decided to take the unusual extra step of putting pictures of the alleged cheats on their Facebook page.
And the tactic may yet pay off as several social media users have come forward with the same names for all three men.
The restaurant posted on Facebook last night: “Please help. This group of people just left our restaurant without paying. Can anyone please help identify? Any help would be much appreciated.”
Broth3rs also attached pictures of the men taken from CCTV. One bald man wearing a long sleeved black top and tan trousers can be seen strolling in to the restaurant.
He is followed by another two men, a dark-haired man wearing a blue jacket, black top and denim jeans and the other wearing a black tracksuit top with white stripes, shorts, and a black cap.
Cristian wrote: “Nobody said anything, they just run away one by one.
“These guys they ate everything, starters and main and said the food was wonderful.
“The problem what they did is a crime, especially one of them. I caught him and was attacked myself with a steak knife.”
He added: “There were two steaks knife on the table. The bald guy attacked me, I don’t want to give you all information police has all evidence. You will see.”
On social media, Karen Smith said: “That’s awful. Don’t recognise them but will share.”
Liam Oliphant wrote: “Seriously what a bunch of scumbags. The guy in the blue is known.”
Lucy Jane said: “Who in their right minds would do something like that.”
Jock Gemmell commented: “If you know who they are dob them in dirty f*****s, if they need a free meal go to the food banks.”
Shockingly some commentators hit out at those naming the men and calling them a ‘grass.’
Jordan Painter said: “The amount of grasses in Perth is shocking.”
While Graem Bain added: “Full of snakes.”
Jaiah Kelly commented: “Check these shaming freaks.”
But Jacqueline Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh hit back: “I can’t believe the amount of people saying ‘I can’t believe you grassed them.’
“In all fairness it’s a hard enough time in this day and age to make a living without walking out without paying. You don’t walk in to Tesco full up a basket and leave.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed they were investigating an incident at a restaurant in George Street, Perth at about 9:30pm yesterday.
He said: “Three males ran off after failing to pay for a meal, and allegedly also threatened a member of staff.
“Officers are following positive lines of enquiry into the incident and enquiries are continuing.”
Speaking today, Cristian revealed the men dodged a £110 bill after eating two bowls of soup, an antipasto platter, two sirloin steaks and a chicken dish, washed down with four pints of lager, and two double vodkas.
He said: “I work hard, I’ve been in Scotland 16 years and I worked as a chef. I’ve had my own business for three years, I’m in at 6am every day and I work late into the night without any days off.
“This has been terrible, I just want to get on with my business but these men have stolen from me. There have been other restaurant owners in the area who have got in contact with me and said the men did the same to them. It has been very upsetting.”
