A Northampton Indian restaurant is seeking answers after a table of four allegedly made off without paying their £200 bill on August 5, 2025. The incident, characterized as a "dine and dash," has sparked outrage and prompted a police investigation.

Saffron, the restaurant targeted, has released CCTV footage showing the group leaving the premises without settling their tab, which amounted to £197.30 in food and drinks. According to the restaurant owners, the incident significantly impacted their takings on what was already a slow Monday night.

Northamptonshire Police are currently investigating the alleged theft and have urged anyone with information to come forward, quoting incident number 25000457718.

This incident isn't isolated, as restaurants worldwide are increasingly facing similar situations. In October 2024, a couple in Scotland used a "handbag trick" to avoid paying an 80-pound bill at La Dolce Vita in East Kilbride. The woman left her handbag behind, implying she would return, but the bag was found empty. The couple had enjoyed a three-course meal before leaving separately, pretending to go out for a cigarette.

In June 2025, a trio in Chicago skipped out on a $200 seafood bill at Phlavz, a Black-owned restaurant, prompting the owners to file a police report and refuse later payment offers. The owners highlighted the impact on their staff and the broader community. The act was caught on CCTV, showing the suspects laughing as they exited the restaurant.

In March 2025, three women in Chicago dined and dashed on a $200 bill and then boasted about it online. The women, who were celebrating a birthday, ran out of Soul Vibes restaurant after devouring chicken wings, Alfredo, and flights of drinks. Dine and dash incidents are on the rise, with some restaurants making their servers pay for the unpaid bills.

Sam Toia, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, noted a troubling increase in "dine-and-dash" incidents since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in outdoor dining during the summer. These incidents can significantly hurt independent restaurants.

These "dine and dash" incidents have consequences beyond the financial loss. They affect the staff who rely on tips, the restaurant's bottom line, and the community it serves. Some restaurant owners are taking a stand against such behavior by filing police reports and raising awareness on social media.