Can you dine and dash

The person perpetrating a dine and dash usually has no intent to actually pay for the meal they are eating. In other words, there is an element of intent; not paying a bill when it is issued is not necessarily a crime, but having the intent to avoid payment makes the dine and dash practice a criminal offense. A dine and dasher will sit down for a meal and then make an excuse to leave the table — a common excuse is a trip to the bathroom, while others simply leave the restaurant without an excuse at all.

He or she must avoid being noticed by a waiter or waitress as well as other employees of the restaurant. If the person doing the dine and dash is not caught, several ways of dealing with the matter may occur.

Some restaurants have a policy in place that the waiter or waitress must cover the cost of the meal, but this practice is illegal in some places, so the restaurant may be left to cover the cost of the meal. You can accept cash payments and swipe credit cards at the table using an iPad instead of a cash register or standalone credit card reader. Another restaurant theft prevention method is to switch your service model to one in which customers pay upfront instead of at the end of their meal.

Dine and dash happens when customers are alone at their tables, not while servers are present. When servers spend more time with customers, the odds of dine and dash will decrease! With tableside ordering , it becomes even easier for staff to spend more time with guests. Ask bar customers to give your bartenders a credit card to open a tab with. Keep cards behind the bar until customers ask to close out their bill.

Just like dine and dash can be prevented when servers hover near tables , it can also be prevented when a host stands at the front entrance of the restaurant. If you have an outdoor space at your restaurant, keep it enclosed or put it in the back of your restaurant so that diners still have to exit through the front door. Giving diners one way in and one way out — including patio access — can make it even more difficult for dine-and-dashers to sneak out. Warning: Obey local fire codes by creating emergency exits where appropriate to keep your customers safe!

If your restaurant falls victim to a case of dine and dash, the first thing you should do is contact the police. Theft is a crime and should be taken seriously. Even if the value of the goods and services stolen from your restaurant was relatively inconsequential, the total value of the goods stolen from restaurants in your area by that same perpetrator could add up to a lot.

You could help the police catch a serial dine and dasher! Review camera footage, get contact information from a reservation, or ask your staff to describe the person in question. Next, reach out to restaurateurs in your community. Describe the perpetrator to them and warn them to look out for this person. First, do not bring public attention to the incident. When you tell the public about dine and dash instances, you increase your chances of becoming a target.

Be as transparent as possible about the incident to your staff. In some areas, it is classified as petty theft with a light punishment. In other states, such as Florida , dine and dash penalties can be severe. Moreover, there are dine and dash consequences that do not involve the legal system.

Restaurants in the area may refuse to serve the person after their identity is determined, even if the dasher has no history with that business. First of all, calling law enforcement is best since a theft has occurred. Depending on company policy, some restaurants may only call the police after a significant loss. Whatever the case, do not hesitate to contact the police and provide any evidence you have.

Even if you do not recoup your losses, the police can warn other restaurants about patrons matching the dasher's description. Secondly, a restaurant should look into how the theft occurred. Consider all the elements that can play a role and think about resolving any gaps in security. Could a better security system or better customer service have prevented the dine and dash? Would a more effective restaurant management system have helped? At Epos Now, our software helps restaurants oversee tables, orders, customer habits, and so much more.

Our portable hardware is perfect for providing prompt table-side service, and our rugged touchscreen monitors are perfect for busy counters. We use cookies to give you the best experience on our site. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Written by Austin Chegini.

Go Back. See how common dine and dash really is and learn how to protect your restaurant. What is dine and dash? How often does it occur?

Add a payment counter Related to our last point, a restaurant can require pre-payment at a counter before a customer receives their food. Be likable and attentive Some people might visit an establishment with the sole purpose of dining and dashing. Provide faster, better service No matter how likable a server, is or how marvelous the food tastes, service remains the chief determinant for most diners.

Consider these ideas to ensure fast, high-quality service: - Use a POS with a table management system to prevent servers from being overburdened - Replace your kitchen printer with a kitchen display screen to improve efficiency - Analyze reports to know precisely how many employees to staff at any time and day 5.

Implement table-side payment Having diners pay at the table is very much a part of providing better service and reducing theft. Pre-authorize credit cards for large parties As we mentioned earlier, it is not uncommon for groups to walk out on a check. Boost security with cameras A proper security system is a perfect deterrent. What are some common dine and dash consequences? What should a restaurant do after a dine and dash? Offer ends in 7 days 4 hours 50 minutes 27 seconds.