The serial 'dine

A couple accused of running a 'dine and dash racket' have allegedly targeted a string of restaurants in the past year, MailOnline can reveal.

Staff at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Port Talbot near Swansea claimed the couple ordered expensive steaks, double desserts and 15 bottles of fizzy drinks on Friday night as part of a large group of eight - then allegedly left without paying the £329 bill.

We can now reveal that the pair are accused of 'doing runners' at seven restaurants across Wales in around the past year.

The Somerset Arms in Port Talbot, The Longbow Beefeater in Pontyclun, the Chilli Too Indian restaurant in Clydach, La Casona in Skewen, the Riverhouse Lounge and Restaurant in Swansea and The Yard in Cowbridge believe that they are all victims of the suspected 'dine and dashers'. 

It is understood the pair arrive in a blue Ford van and allegedly order the most expensive dishes before fleeing. 

In February, the Mediterranean eatery La Casona in Skewen said it had reported the couple to the police after 'robbing' them. Two months later, the restaurant published images of the woman.

And in August, the couple allegedly targeted the River House Lounge & Restaurant in Swansea and ran up a 'hefty bill' before 'carefully disappearing'. CCTV images released at the time showed the man and woman at the premises at the time of the alleged 'dine and dash'.

Police are investigating 'a number of reports of making off without payment from several businesses' across South Wales.

Do YOU know who they are? If so, email [email protected] 

FRIDAY: The couple with a large group at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Port Talbot

AUGUST 2023: The couple at the River House Lounge & Restaurant in Swansea 

FEBRUARY: The woman at the Mediterranean eatery La Casona, in Skewen

On Friday, CCTV footage showed the woman attempting to pay the bill with a savings account card,  which was declined twice.

READ MORE: 'Dine-and-dash' family-of-eight tuck into huge meal of expensive steaks, double desserts and 15 bottles of pop at Italian restaurant - before 'leaving without paying' £329 bill

She allegedly told staff her son would wait inside while she went to get her 'other card', but she did not return and moments later the boy had also vanished from the premises.

A similar trick was used by the couple at the River House last year, when they ran up a hefty bill whilst sitting on a table of five and 'promised' to get cash from the local cash point after their card got declined.

But the diners never returned, leading the restaurant owners to call the police.

On August 9, 2023, they posted a CCTV image of the couple in their establishment and wrote: 'Thank you so much to everyone for sharing. 12 positive identifications and the Police are now dealing with the information we have been given.

'Please SHARE to help identify these. They run up a very hefty bill (for 5) and 'promised' to get cash from the local cash point after their card got declined. We like to put some trust in people, but this was obviously carefully planned as they all just disappeared!'

After hearing the Bella Ciao story on Friday, the La Casona restaurant in Skewen, Neath, took to social media this weekend to share a similar story about the couple, who sat down to eat as a group of six on February 23.

According to the restaurant, four of the group left the building after finishing their meal, which cost nearly £300, leaving the mother to stay with a 'young boy' to pay.

The business posted a CCTV image of the mother, who told staff she would get another card from her car after the one she used was declined.

Having been given the bill, CCTV footage shows the mother of the group attempting to pay with a savings account card which got declined twice

The mother allegedly told staff her son (left) would wait inside while she went to get her 'other card', but she did not return and moments later the boy had also vanished from the premises

The restaurant asked the boy to wait with them whilst she went to the car, but he was gone 10 seconds later and never returned.

READ MORE: Embarrassed party of four pensioners accused of being dine and dashers settle the bill after telling owner they thought each other had already paid

They wrote on Facebook: 'We asked the boy to stay and wait for her in the restaurant. She left, and 10 seconds after, the boy started to run to the car.

'We sent CCTV recordings, photos, and even the registration plate number. The response was: 'This vehicle is connected to many people…'

'Two months later, we called to ask about our case. There was no update, but the Officer would contact us... We believed reporting to the police would help to prevent such events for other restaurants—but apparently, it didn't.'

Tyrone Reese, manager of Bella Ciao, also said he was disappointed by the lack of urgency shown by the force to catch the perpetrators, adding: 'I'm paying my tax for police but I seem to be powerless. It annoys me to know this is happening and that they are getting away with it.'

To add insult to injury, the family-owned restaurant learned there was no way to contact the family as the number they used to take the booking was 'fake'. Mr Reese has now reported the incident to the police.

The dine and dash video he posted onto Bella Ciao's social media pages went viral over the weekend, with more than 12 million people viewing the post.

After publishing the clip, Mr Reese says he was bombarded with calls from other restaurants in the area, claiming they also had similar incidents with a family that had refused to pay.

But the video has actually helped Mr Reese's business as the following night he had tripled the number of bookings, something he described as a 'sign of solidarity' from the local community.

Leaving a restaurant without paying is a crime and carries a prison sentence of up to two years.

A South Wales Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'South Wales Police is investigating a number of reports of making off without payment from several businesses with our force area.

'Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances behind the incidents and to identify those involved.'