Northampton’s Saffron restaurant reports dine-and-dash incident; CCTV footage goes viral on social media
An Indian restaurant named Saffron in Northampton, UK, has reported a shocking case of theft after four men walked out without paying their bill of ₹23,000 (£197). The incident occurred on August 5 and was captured on CCTV, which the restaurant later shared on Facebook. The video, now viral, shows the men leaving casually after finishing their meal, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Restaurant shares footage, appeals for community help in tracking down offenders.
In its Facebook post, Saffron wrote:
“Last night at approximately 10.15 pm, four young men entered our restaurant, enjoyed a full meal, and left without paying. This kind of behaviour isn’t just theft – it affects hardworking small businesses and our local community.”
The management confirmed that the matter was reported to Northamptonshire Police, and the CCTV footage had been handed over. They urged anyone who recognises the individuals to contact either the restaurant or the police directly.
Community reacts strongly
The post sparked an outpouring of support from social media users. Many condemned the act as “disgusting” and harmful to small businesses, with some suggesting restaurants should implement pre-payment or card deposit systems to avoid such thefts.
One commenter wrote, “This is a case of theft and can lead to a sentence of up to six months.” Another said, “It might be a laugh to them, but for others, it’s their livelihood. Karma can take time, but it always catches up.”
The incident has reignited discussion about how restaurants and small businesses can safeguard themselves against such deliberate dine-and-dash thefts.
