Restaurant slams couple who used handbag trick to skip paying £68 bill

The 'sickened' owner of a restaurant has been left outraged after a couple allegedly employed a 'handbag trick' to dodge paying their £68 bill. The Italian restaurant's staff say they duped by the pair, who indulged in two starters and three mains before pretending to step out for a smoke, only to allegedly flee without settling the tab. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 20, and now the family-run establishment is actively seeking the couple.

CCTV footage released by the Main Street diner shows the duo casually smoking outside before leaving without paying their tab. The woman had left behind a handbag on her chair, which restaurant staff allege was to mislead them into believing they would come back. The bag was later found to be empty.



READ MORE: Owners of beloved Stockport restaurant make 'difficult' decision to close after almost 30 years Co-owner of La Dolce Vita, in East Kilbride, Scotland, Heather Scuotto said: "It's just sickening, we're absolutely furious. "We're a small family run business, we've been open for 10 years and moved to this new restaurant five years ago. We understand that in the current climate, people might struggle to afford a meal out, but this was pre-planned.

"They walked out and left an empty handbag just lying there. The police think it's all part of their con. To think they would come out to a restaurant with that in mind is just horrible.

" The woman left an empty handbag to allegedly trick staff into thinking they were returning (Image: Supplied) The Daily Record reports that Heather, who runs the restaurant alongside her husband Vitale, is raising the alarm for other businesses after being informed that the same duo had allegedly targeted various Lanarkshire dining spots. Speaking of her experience, Heather said: "When we shared the footage on Facebook, we were contacted by a restaurant in Uddingston and one in Coatbridge who said they were paid a visit by the couple. We just hope other restaurants in the area keep a look out and know the tricks these people will try and use.

" The couple had in two special bruschettas, a specialty pasta dish, a main course pasta, and a pizza, topping it off with four soft drinks. Before their abrupt departure, they ordered two desserts but requested them to be served upon returning from a smoke. Heather added: "£68 isn't loads, but to us it means a lot.

Our trust is kind of lost in customers now. Staff have been left feeling guilty, but it's not their fault at all, there is a wider impact here." A Police Scotland spokesperson reported: "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.".