Man with two children flee café without paying after racking up £60 bill

A café owner has attempted to name and shame a man who allegedly dine and dashed after racking up a £60 bill with his two children.

Footage shows a balding man and two youngsters enjoying a meal at Café No 35 in Canterbury, Kent last Monday.

The owner Anna Carpenter, 55, claims the group ordered two fried breakfasts, three portions of chips, five coca colas, and a milkshake – with the bill coming to around £60.

But as they come to the end of their food the man goes inside to order more, but as the waitress goes to place the order the trio are seen quickly leaving – allegedly without having paid.

Owner Anna Carpenter, 55, said she is sharing the footage in a bid to identify the man and to warn other businesses in the area.

Anna said: ‘I feel disappointed and angry about what happened – and I feel sorry for my staff who were stressed and shaken up.

‘It’s just upsetting that someone would take advantage like this, especially because we’re an independent café.

‘You know, this is our money, our passion, our time and our livelihood.’

The man and his two children racked up a £60 bill (Picture: Courtesy Anna Carpenter / SWNS)

The man seemed suspicious as he kept peering through the window (Picture: Courtesy Anna Carpenter/SWNS)

But despite placing another order after finishing the first lot, they disappeared.

She said the two staff members working had their suspicions as the man appeared uneasy throughout his meal.

Anna said: ‘My waitress said the man kept peering through the window looking inside the café.

‘He did it so often that she did feel that something wasn’t quite right and she certainly felt uncomfortable.

The trio quickly left as the waitress went to ring up a second order (Picture: Anna Carpenter/SWNS)

The group ordered two fried breakfasts, three portions of chips, five coca colas, and a milkshake (Picture: Anna Carpenter/SWNS)

‘When I watched the CCTV back, it did look really strange that he spent so much time looking through the window.

‘Everything my waitress had told me was there on the CCTV. They walked out very quickly and certainly left at pace.’

Anna, who opened the business three-and-a-half years ago, shared a CCTV image on Facebook and is urging anyone who knows the man and two children to get in touch.

Kent Police are investigating.

A spokesperson said: ‘Kent Police was called at 4.28pm on Wednesday 12 June 2024 to a report that on Monday 3 June a family had entered a café in St Margaret’s Street, Canterbury, and then left without paying.

‘Enquiries are ongoing.’

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