A Wyoming restaurant owner publicly shamed a family of four alleged dine-and-dashers who fled without paying their $130 bill — after reporting a past similar offense to the police went nowhere, according to reports.
Zoey Aldahash, the proprietor of Sweet Zoey Mediterranean restaurant in Casper, posted an image on Facebook that appeared to show a woman, man, and two teenagers who racked up a large tab at her restaurant in May.
“They ate everything, appetizers, drinks, sweets, mains, everything,” Aldahash told Cowboy State Daily.
“Then the four of them stood up in the same moment together, they walked to the door, and once they opened the door, they ran to the car — they were running,” Aldahash said.
The owner of the eatery known for its baklava and kebabs decided not to involve the police and post the four customers on social media after cops failed to nab a group of five dine-and-dashers at her restaurant in 2024.
“In my previous experience, calling the police didn’t work. There was no help, so I didn’t contact the police the second time,” Aldahash said.
“These people came here and they intended to steal,” she said.
Several angry locals backed the fed-up owner’s decision to broadcast the faces of the apparent family of four. Others took issue with the owner taking matters into her own hands, especially since children appeared to be involved
“How disgusting! Make sure their photos are plastered everywhere so they can be banned from everywhere. People like them should never be allowed anywhere,” one user said, per the outlet.
“If they dont come fwd I can swing in 65$ of the bill. I know it’s not all of it but it’s half,” another customer added.
Comments on the post now appear to be disabled.
Rebekah Ladd, a public information officer for the Casper Police Department, told the outlet that social media posts can lead to unfounded accusations, misidentification, or harassment.
“Posting [images] publicly is typically not the most appropriate tactic at the beginning of a dine-and-dash investigation,” Ladd said.
“Businesses should be especially cautious when juveniles may be involved … particularly when the full circumstances are not known.”
The crew of cheapskates has not yet been caught, leaving Aldahash frustrated, but grateful for her generous regulars.
“You come in and order this much, and just leave without paying?” she said. “Who are these people?”
“Sometimes it’s like you don’t know if you want to cry or smile.”
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