REGINA – A group of three men were seated at La Bodega Sunday afternoon, where they ordered appetizers, entrees and two bottles of wine, before stepping out for a smoke and never returning to pay their bill.
After going through security tape, the owner posted a photo of one of the culprits to Twitter, garnering dozens of retweets and responses.
“My intension was not to shame them. I tweeted the picture so that other businesses are aware of the situation and to watch out for someone like that if they step in,” said Frank Chou, Assistant General Manager of La Bodega.
While Chou has not reported the incident to police, authorities say he is well within his rights to post the photo online.
“You’re not doing more than putting up a photograph of someone who was in your establishment; and in this case, making an allegation. But it can’t be libel if it’s the truth. It can’t be slander if it’s the truth.”
Restaurants Canada said there are some preventative steps business owners can take.
“It’s becoming perhaps increasingly common in a fine-dining establishment where they might require a credit card to hold or guarantee a reservation. And then finally and perhaps the most important one, is ensuring that there’s always an employee at the door,” said Dwayne Marling of Restaurants Canada.
Dining and dashing is a fraud and a crime. Someone charged will have to make a court appearance and could face a financial penalty.
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