Introduction to the Incident
CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) – A South Florida restaurant owner is speaking out after surveillance video tipped off his staff about a tip jar thief who pulled off a sneaky steal — even after the manager on duty had agreed to pay for his meal.
The Surveillance Footage
The security footage captures an elderly man putting his hand into the jar at Hermanos Cantina Grill in Coral Gables — not once, but three times — Tuesday morning. Dennis Fernandez, the owner and chef of the restaurant located at 2209 Ponce De Leon Blvd., spoke with 7News on Wednesday. “While [our manager] was cooking his food, he was stealing from her,” he said.
The Act of Theft
The surveillance video captures the elderly man grabbing as many bills as he could, while the manager, Dayami, was making his meal for free. “So imagine. This is really sad,” said Fernandez. Fernandez said Dayami had offered the man a free meal because he said he was struggling. “And doing an act for him, with her money. He came with the excuse that ‘I need a job.’ Then he said that he doesn’t have money and appeared to be somebody that needed food,” he said.
The Amount Stolen
Fernandez is not sure how much the tip grabber stole. “Anywhere from a dollar to $10 to $20, because [Dayami] has to [grab] change sometimes to get change for the cashier,” he said. Fernandez said he didn’t report the thief to police, but he warns the community to be on the lookout for this man. “He approaches the tip jars and pretends that he’s, you know, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’” he said.
Reaction from the Restaurant
Fernandez hopes this man learns his lesson. “That he doesn’t have to steal from workers that spend eight, 10 hours working to feed their families,” he said. The restaurant’s staff said they’re going to replace the tip jar with one that locks. As for the elderly man caught on camera, they said he’s more than welcome to come to eat at their restaurant, but stealing is a no-no.
Conclusion
The incident at Hermanos Cantina Grill highlights the importance of honesty and integrity, especially in situations where kindness is being offered. The restaurant’s decision to replace the tip jar with a lockable one is a prudent step to prevent future thefts. It also underscores the need for vigilance in protecting the hard-earned money of workers.
FAQs
- Q: What happened at Hermanos Cantina Grill?
A: An elderly man stole from the tip jar while his meal was being prepared for free. - Q: Why was the man’s meal being prepared for free?
A: The manager had agreed to give him a free meal because he claimed to be struggling. - Q: Did the restaurant report the theft to the police?
A: No, the restaurant did not report the incident to the police but warned the community about the man. - Q: How does the restaurant plan to prevent future tip jar thefts?
A: The restaurant plans to replace the tip jar with one that locks.
