Dine and Dash: Women Leave Norwich Restaurant Without Paying £300 Bill

In a brazen act of theft, four women and their children left a Norwich restaurant without paying a hefty £300 bill after enjoying an evening of steaks, cocktails, and shots. This incident, which occurred on October 5th at Cheers restaurant on Surrey Street, has left the owner financially impacted and emotionally distressed.

The group arrived without a reservation and spent approximately two hours at the establishment, ordering lavishly throughout their stay. According to the itemized bill, they consumed over £130 worth of steaks, 11 shots of Baileys totaling £71.50, cocktails amounting to more than £50, along with beer, wine, starters, and dessert. Restaurant owner Andrea Marinho noted that the staff didn’t notice anything suspicious about the women’s behavior during their visit. “They were talking and laughing,” she explained. “They felt like they were celebrating something because of the quantity of drinks they were ordering.” It wasn’t until the end of the meal that their true intentions became clear.

CCTV footage captured the calculated nature of the theft as the women executed their “dine and dash” scheme with precision. Rather than leaving as a group, they departed one by one with their children, a strategy designed to avoid drawing attention from the busy staff. When employees finally realized what was happening, they rushed outside to confront the women, only to see them running down the street. “They sneaked out one at a time,” Andrea recalled. “The waiters managed to shout ‘you didn’t pay for your bill,’ but they were running away.” The restaurant immediately reported the incident to the police, who have now released CCTV images of the women and are seeking public assistance in identifying them.

For Andrea Marinho, who opened Cheers restaurant just this past January, the incident represents more than just a financial loss—it’s a disheartening blow to a new business still establishing itself in the community. “We are new to Norwich,” she explained. “The first few months is always a struggle. There’s always a lot going on and then things like that happen. It’s frustrating and really sad.” What makes the situation particularly troubling for Andrea is that the women committed this theft in front of their own children. “What kind of model are they for their children?” she questioned, highlighting the poor example being set for the young ones who witnessed the entire incident.

The financial impact of the theft fell directly on Andrea herself, as she was forced to cover the £300 loss out of her own pocket. For a restaurant owner already navigating the challenges of a new business, this represents a significant setback. “We just lost all this money—Sunday is a very quiet day,” Andrea explained, underscoring how the timing made the loss even more impactful. The incident also raises concerns about “dine and dash” thefts becoming more common, potentially threatening small business owners who operate on tight margins. Andrea emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “They need to be accountable because it just cannot keep happening.”

Norfolk Police are actively investigating the case and have made a public appeal for information. “Police are releasing CCTV images of four women they would like to speak to in connection with a theft,” a spokesperson stated. “Anyone who recognises those featured in the images or has any information that could help the investigation is asked to contact Norfolk Police via any of the following channels quoting reference: 36/72063/25.” As the search for the culprits continues, this incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by restaurant owners and the impact that dishonest actions can have on small businesses trying to establish themselves in their communities. For Andrea and her team at Cheers restaurant, they hope that justice will be served, not just to recover their losses, but to prevent similar incidents from happening to other local establishments in the future.