SACRAMENTO, Calif — A popular Mexican restaurant in Sacramento said a customer left without paying a nearly $200 tab.
Sacramento Police Department said Algo Bueno in North Sacramento filed a police report after Monday's incident.
It happened around 12:30 p.m. Monday. Zenaida Rodriguez, a chef at the restaurant and mother of one of the owners, said the man ordered several items then got up to order a third drink. However when the cashier asked him to pay, he said he forgot his wallet in his car and walked out.
To the worker's surprise, he left without paying about $200 worth of food and drinks. It was caught on video, but ABC10 blurred the man's face pending more information from police.
"Everybody's working hard for the money that we are getting and to see that someone is taking advantage of that is kind of sad," said Rodriguez.
It was Rodriguez's dream to open a restaurant, and she said it's disheartening for the entire family to see it happen as they try to grow their business.
"Getting new equipment, paying the employees and things are getting higher — they are more expensive, so we need to pay for everything. And it affects us because, with those $200, I can buy maybe even something for the employees," said Rodriguez.
The owners of Algo Bueno posted pictures of the man on their social media.
They also said a few other restaurants reached out to them saying something similar happened to them, and it appears it could be the same man.
ABC10 called the Verduzco in Dixon, and the manager there confirmed someone dined and dashed after ordering around $200 to $300 worth of seafood back in November. However, the business did not file a police report.
Rodriguez said the family is trying to warn others, so it doesn't happen to anyone else.
"Have all the businesses aware that he might do the same thing to them, because he might be doing the same thing to another small business," said Rodriguez.
Algo Bueno said it plans to speak with Sacramento police and voice their concerns at a meeting with other businesses on May 22.
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