One half of a couple dubbed the 'Bonnie and Clyde' of dine and dash was caught after the duo fled six venues in one part of Spain without paying their bill. The man, 40, was arrested on September 4.
Arrest after restaurant owner confrontation
The man was one half of a duo who skipped out on bills at restaurants and cafes in the Alt Emporda region, near the border with France. The string of dine and dash incidents reportedly happened over a month, and the affected parties were reportedly in contact with each other during this time, before it all ended at Pizzeria Il Nonno.
It was at this venue that the man was confronted, then chased, by the manager before being arrested by the Castello d'Empuries Local police.
Incidents along the Costa Brava
L'independant reports that the couple had also attempted to pull the same stunt at places along the Costa Brava in Catalonia, five of which were in the coastal town of Empuriabrava. The first of these alleged incidents was reported on August 17, where, having requested to have their coffee outside, the couple exited leaving the Vilabertran venue €95.40 (£81.89) out of pocket.
Later, they would visit the L'Empuria Beach café, where the woman left, followed by the man, who claimed to a waitress that he was leaving for cigarettes. The venue was left with a €75 (£64.38) unpaid bill. Other venues affected, reports El Gerio Digital, were The Loft, Internet Café, and Restaurant Dlux, alongside the restaurant in Vilabertran.
Restaurants collaborate and further arrest
However, it all came to a head at the aforementioned Pizzeria Il Nonno over a bill of €55.10 (£47.30). Following the events of the couple's near month-long spree of fleeing, the six restaurants are now working together to assemble a detailed picture of what happened and how much money was lost, along with evidence from security footage.
It is not yet known what has happened to the arrested individual's alleged accomplice and whether or not she, in turn, has been caught. As well as being held by the authorities over the dine and dash incidents, the man was also arrested on a separate offence. The man, who has not been named, was arrested over allegedly breaching an active restraining order in relation to his former partner and currently has a police record. The precise details of this alleged offence are not known.
