The 'dine and dash' playbook exposed: How couple wanted over string of 'food ... trends now
A couple accused of running a 'dine and dash' racket that has allegedly seen a string of restaurants targeted in the past year are thought to be deploying the same playbook wherever they go, MailOnline can reveal.
At least seven restaurants within a 30-mile radius across South Wales have come forward claiming to be victims of the pair dating as far back as August last year, it emerged today.
The establishments claim the two arrive in a Blue Ford van, sit with large groups of people and order the most expensive dishes on the menu - typically steaks - before allegedly fleeing after the bill arrives.
MailOnline has been told that each member of the group allegedly orders at least two bottles of fizzy drinks each, as well as double helpings of desserts or starters. Once they finish, most of them allegedly leave the premises, leaving the woman to settle the tab.
She allegedly comes to the counter and claims that she cannot pay with her card, so asks for the nearest cashpoint - before allegedly walking out the door and 'doing a runner', it is understood.
Staff at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Swansea say they were the latest victims of this heist when the couple sat with a group of eight in their restaurant on Friday night and allegedly left without paying the £329 bill.
The Somerset Arms in Port Talbot, The Longbow Beefeater in Pontyclun, the Chilli Too Indian restaurant in Clydach, La Casona in Skewen, the Riverhouse Lounge and Restaurant in Swansea and The Yard in Cowbridge believe that they are all victims of the 'dine and dashers'.
Emily Langford, the manager of the family-run Yard pizza restaurant, claimed the group 'dashed off' before they paid their £151 tab.
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FRIDAY: The couple with a large group at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Port Talbot
AUGUST 2023: The couple at the River House Lounge & Restaurant in Swansea
The Somerset Arms in Port Talbot, The Longbow Beefeater in Pontyclun, the Chilli Too Indian restaurant in Clydach, La Casona in Skewen, the Riverhouse Lounge and Restaurant in Swansea and The Yard in Cowbridge believe that they are all victims of the 'dine and dashers'
FEBRUARY: The woman at the Mediterranean eatery La Casona, in Skewen
Ms Langford told MailOnline: 'They left the woman to pay. And she stood up and said 'Oh, is it okay? If I come to the bar to pay?' and we said that was fine.
'She was basically buttering me and my mum up and was saying lots of nice things to us. But as she put her card in it got declined. She was like 'oh that's weird' and it declined again.
'She said she would call her son and sort out a bank transfer, but we weren't comfortable with that and asked if she could pay in cash and showed her where the nearest cash point was.
'I showed her where it was and as I turned my head back through the door to tell my mum she was at the cash point, by the time I turned around again she was gone.'
On Friday, CCTV footage showed the woman attempting to pay the bill with a savings account card, which was declined twice.
She allegedly told staff her son would wait inside while she went to get her 'other card', but she did
