Scammers Plant Glass in Food, Skip Out on $140 Bill at Family-Owned Restaurant

In a disturbing example of the challenges small businesses face, a family-run Italian restaurant in North West England found itself the target of an outrageous scam when two diners attempted to dodge a $140 bill by faking a food contamination incident.

The event, which unfolded at San Marino restaurant last Saturday, has left the restaurant community and loyal customers in shock — and the local authorities investigating.

According to Miraz Yolcu, the managing director of San Marino, the couple dined at the restaurant with their daughter and placed an order that included Penne San Marino pasta, a chargrilled lamb shish kebab, garlic bread, Caesar salad, still and sparkling water, and a Coca-Cola.

Elon Musk Called This Financial News ‘Terrifying’

By all appearances, it seemed like a regular family meal — until things took a dramatic turn.

Image Credit: Courtsey Kennedy News

“They had almost finished their food when the lady called one of the staff and said she found a piece of glass on her food that was in her mouth and almost broke her veneer teeth she had paid thousands of pounds for,” Yolcu said.

But things didn’t add up.

The woman claimed the glass had been in her mouth, and she was visibly upset, reportedly trying to claim compensation for the incident.

Image Credit: Courtsey Kennedy News

FREE Concealed Carry Gun Laws & Reciprocity Map

However, CCTV footage told a different story.

Staff later reviewed the security video and were stunned by what they saw: the man appearing to pull a clump of glass from his pocket and subtly pass it to the woman, who then wrapped it in a napkin with a portion of her food.

“She just put it on the table on a piece of napkin and pretended it was in her mouth,” Yolcu explained. “Everybody was in shock. The staff were worried and they called the manager who came and asked what had happened.”

Despite the staff’s disbelief, the couple remained insistent and refused to pay their bill.

Image Credit: Courtsey Kennedy News

“The manager was saying, ‘Sorry, it just doesn’t happen. It’s impossible to find glass in the food. This is not glass that we use in the kitchen,’” Yolcu recounted.

By the time Yolcu received a picture of the glass in question, it was already clear to him that the story was fabricated.

“I knew straight away that it wasn’t the right type of glass,” he said. “Before I said that, they already didn’t pay.”

Image Credit: Courtsey Kennedy News

In response, San Marino posted the CCTV footage on Facebook with a message emphasizing the harm such scams cause: “These kinds of scams are damaging to small, hardworking businesses like ours.”

The incident has since been reported to the Cheshire Police.

A spokesperson confirmed, “At 1 a.m. on Sunday, April 6 police received reports of a theft/deception at a restaurant in Widnes. The caller reported that three customers had left the premises without paying for a meal after claiming to find a piece of broken glass in their meal. After reviewing CCTV footage, the caller believes that the glass was placed in the meal by the customers. Inquiries in relation to the matter are in the early stages.”

Yolcu expressed disbelief over how casual the family seemed during the act, noting that they were even accompanied by a young daughter.

“It was shocking to see the CCTV footage. They were with their daughter, but they’re not ashamed. They weren’t booked and they just came and said they needed something to eat, so we happily showed them a table,” he said.

Image Credit: Courtsey Kennedy News

Adding to the suspicion, Yolcu noted the woman’s behavior before the incident. “They are experienced. She was looking at the cameras around,” he claimed.

Fortunately, there was no financial compensation given to the couple. “They didn’t pay for the food, but there was no compensation. We got that on the CCTV so we won’t be paying them a penny,” Yolcu stated.

This is not the first time the restaurant has encountered such behavior.

After a similar incident in the past, Yolcu said he took the time to research the proper procedures for handling such claims. “It doesn’t happen so often, but it causes a lot of stress to staff,” he said.

“It’s a serious accusation that could involve police, environmental health, and cause all sorts of problems to the business. It could be damaging to the restaurant’s reputation.”

His advice for other restaurant owners? Stay calm and rely on evidence.

“You need to be really calm. Before any further action you should say, ‘I’ve got to have a look at the camera and call the police.’ If they are serious they will check these things, and if they’re not they will be shocked — and if they made it up they would be really scared,” Yolcu advised.

As the investigation unfolds, this story serves as a cautionary tale of how deceitful tactics can threaten small businesses — and a reminder of the importance of vigilance, especially in the hospitality industry, where trust and reputation mean everything.

WATCH BELOW:

American Made Patriotic Apparel – Save 15% with Promo Code MERICA

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.