'We caught a family hiding plastic in their bread'
BBCRestaurants and pubs have reported hundreds of incidents of customers running off without paying to Devon and Cornwall Police in recent years. The force said it remained an under reported crime and warned businesses who have been victims off creating their own appeals on social media. We have been to Newlyn in Cornwall to talk to publicans and restaurateurs about their experiences with dine and dash, and how they have dealt with it.
Facebook"We had a family who planted plastic in their piece of bread and then pretended they had chipped their tooth biting into it."
This is just one incident of dine and dash Nina Maclean has experienced at her Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar in the town in recent years.
As well as capturing customers on CCTV planting objects like plastic and hair in their food, others have run away without paying.
After one such incident, Maclean tried to locate the offenders on social media.
"Afterwards, the couple did call us to ask if we could remove their faces from social media and we said we'll happily remove the post if they pay the bill which they refused to do - ultimately it's theft," she said.
"I don't think there is a lot the police can do, which is a shame because then it doesn't discourage people from doing it, but you just have to hope that people are going to be honest, and the majority of people are honest and decent."
Devon and Cornwall Police urged more businesses to send in evidence when incidents happen, instead of using social media to try and track down the culprits.
Other restaurants and pubs have also used social media to track down people who have run off without paying.
Just set back from the bustling fishing harbour, general manager of The Swordfish pub Trevelyan Worth said customers had walked out without paying bills £140 and £380 in the last year.
After posting about the incidents on social media, one customer did eventually pay their bill, but the other one remains unresolved.
"The highest damage aside from the finance is trust," he said.
"You go into a lot of businesses these days and you are expected to pay up front. I still operate on trust."
A few hundred metres away, overlooking the port, the Fisherman's Arms has also had experience with dine and dashers.
Co-owner Nicholas George, who also owns The Logan Rock Inn near Porthcurno and two pubs on the Isles of Scilly, said: "We've had four or five events and we've traced them down through social media and they have paid every single time."
Now he asks people to pay when ordering if they are sitting outside, or if his staff do do not know the customer.
Customers eating and then making off without paying affects a third of restaurants, according to UK Hospitality.
'It is theft'
Sgt Chris Chaloner from Devon and Cornwall Police said it was a criminal offence if somebody has eaten at a restaurant, and then deliberately left without paying.
He admitted the force does not have enough intelligence around the issue as rates of reported incidents have not been high.
Figures obtained by a freedom of information request by the BBC show there have been 234 reports from hospitality businesses to Devon and Cornwall Police since 2022, of customers making off without paying.
In total, when including all outlets like petrol stations and shops this figure rises to 2,802.
Chaloner said: "It's theft and we should be dealing with that. My advice would be to not to put anything out on social media, report to the police, send us the evidence and we'll do the rest."
'Causes significant distress'
Temporary Ch Supt Antony Hart also urged victims to speak to the police.
He said: "Once an image is posted online it's almost impossible to fully remove, and there is a risk that individuals may be wrongly identified.
"This can cause significant distress to innocent people and their families. Extra care should also be taken where children or young people may be captured in footage or images.
"Publishing images before police inquiries have been completed can also affect an investigation. It may influence potential witnesses, impact formal identification procedures, or alert suspects to police interest, which can make inquiries more challenging.
"Where there is a genuine investigative need to seek the public's help in identifying someone, police can release images in a controlled and lawful way, in line with national guidance and legislation."
