CCTV released of 'dine and dash' couple who dodged £80 bill using 'handbag trick'

Staff at the restaurant said that the diners left the venue for a cigarette, though they used a “handbag trick” to trick employees that they would return.

Before leaving the eatery, the pair left a black bag in their booth. Upon discovery, staff looked inside to find that it was empty.

The man and woman had ordered two starters, three mains and two desserts, racking up an £80 bill.

A restaurant spokesperson said the incident left them “angry and annoyed”.

CCTV footage of the incident has been released in order to try and locate the diners. Police Scotland said: “Around 5.45pm on Sunday, October 20, police received a report of a theft from a premises in the Main Street area of East Kilbride.

“Enquiries into the circumstances are at an early stage.”

MORE LIKE THIS:

• Aldi thief who caused £3,400 of damage to steal £10 Easter eggs jailed
• Police chief calls for major reform to crack down on shoplifting as quickly as rioters
• Romanian gang of 'professional shoplifters' steal £73k worth of champagne

So far, no arrests in relation to the crime have been made.

Just two days prior, another restaurant was plagued by dine-and-dashers, this time who clashed with staff when asked to fork up the bill.

A couple visited La Bella Vista in St Leonards-on-Sea, near Hastings in East Sussex where they complained about the food and made strange requests, before stating that they would not pay.

The exchange got heated, and the woman began picking up glasses and cutlery and chucking them at staff.

Emilia Esposito, the administration manager at the Italian eatery, recounted the “scary incident” the BBC: “During the course of the meal they were acting strange - refusing to make eye contact and asking for off-menu items. They also asked for their drinks to be extra strong. They became increasingly rude and disrespectful to us throughout the meal.

“They complained about the food after finishing their main courses, saying it was disgusting.

“They then said they weren’t going to pay, and because this has happened to us before, we insisted that they had to pay.

“That’s when they started to argue, and it escalated. The man went after our boss and attacked him. He came around the back of the bar and started pushing him.”

He continued: “The woman then picked up and smashed our glass tabletops out the front of the restaurant.

“Our boss has visible cuts on his face, the staff have bruises from where they were trying to defend the restaurant and our boss. It’s a scary incident.

“We’ve all pulled together as a team but it’s scary – and never something we’d have expected to happen to us.”

Sussex Police said a 39-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, common assault, and assault. She has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.