Man Caught On Video Stealing Tips At O'Neill's Restaurant In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A tip thief wearing a Mickey Mouse T-shirt hit a popular restaurant in Maspeth, Queens recently.
As CBS2's Jessica Moore reported, the suspect was caught on camera, and now the restaurant hopes someone who sees the surveillance video knows who he is.
It was last Saturday night when the laid back vibe at O'Neill's, at 64-21 53rd Dr. in Queens, was interrupted by a tip thief.
"It's the first time I can ever remember anything -- and I've been in the business a long time -- that anything like that has ever happened," said owner George O'Neill.
Surveillance video showed the man in the Mickey Mouse T-shirt spot a pile of cash on the table. Seconds later, the thief stuffed the money in his back pocket and took off.
Owner O'Neill and his customers said they were outraged.
"I'd like him to go to jail for doing something like that. He must be a mean person," O'Neill said. "They depend on gratuities and the guy should've known that -- terrible."
"It's just surprising. It doesn't meet the norm," said a customer named Jackie, who then turned to his tablemate, Joe. "Joe, would you like to beat the hell out of him?" he added.
Of course, customers who are in a hurry can sometimes get their check, plop down cash, and leave. But that could actually create the perfect opportunity for thieves.
"It's definitely a lesson learned – including myself," said O'Neill's daughter, restaurant manager Tara Pyle. "There's many times that I've walked out and left the check, and I know now I will definitely give it to the waitress."
Pyle had a message for the thief.
"You want people to know – that this, we have surveillance, and so we're going to keep an eye out here for you," she said. "It's not nice to steal, and hopefully you can come back and return the money to the girl that deserves it."
O'Neill's covered the $42 bill and gave the waitress the tip money she lost. But owners tell CBS2 they are afraid if the thieves are not caught, they will strike again.