An apparent rise in so-called ‘dine and dash’ cases in restaurants has been blamed on police forces not taking action against alleged offenders.

Two people were arrested and charged this week after a group were accused of walking out of a number of restaurants across South Wales without paying. Bernard McDonagh, 41, and wife Ann McDonagh, 39, are accused after restaurants reported being hit by multiple offences at five restaurants in a 30-mile radius across South Wales.

One restaurant said the party of six left without paying their £329 bill, while another said the unpaid bill was over £300. Police say the customers are suspected of seven separate incidents where they have allegedly racked up bills totalling more than £1,000 before fleeing.

It comes as other cases of dine and dash have also recently been reported. On Sunday customers trapped a couple inside the Castle Inn pub in Little Wakering, near Southend-on-Sea, Essex, after suspecting they were trying to leave without paying their £60 bill.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), has now told Yahoo News UK that police have “limited time” to deal with similar cases. He said that restaurants feel the crimes are “not being taken seriously”.

Kill said: “In all honesty I think there is an escalation because people have been able to get away with it, with limited or no action taken by the police in many circumstances. The greater the chance of getting away with it, the more people will take that chance.

Watch: 'Dine and dashers' flee pub without paying £140 bill

“It is also clear that police have limited or no time to deal with petty crime and businesses feel that these crimes are not being taken seriously, resulting in people walking free without recourse.”

Kill said restaurants were now asking for payment before food or drink was given to customers in an attempt to prevent dine and dash incidents.

The latest incident of dine and dash follows a spate of similar incidents over the past year. In 2023 a group of pensioners allegedly walking out before paying there £100 bill, while a man appeared in court after racking up £8,000 in unpaid hotel and restaurant fees in East Anglia.

In November, a group of “posh pensioners” left a restaurant without paying their £100 tab in an apparent “dine and dash” in East Yorkshire - though they settled the bill several days later after claiming there had been a mix-up.

In April last year a family-of-four were also caught walking out of an Italian restaurant in Sheffield without paying their £60 bill as unsuspecting staff prepared their desserts.

In February this year a man and women are believed to have racked up a £127 bill at The Pearl Dragon in Southend, Essex, while last month the Wheelbarrow Castle pub in Worcester fell victim to an alleged case of dine and dash when six women were filmed walking out without paying after ordering food and drinks worth £140.

A spokesperson for trade body UKHospitality told Yahoo News UK said of the incidents: “Any customers walking out of restaurants without paying is simply unacceptable and shows a complete lack of respect towards businesses and teams that work incredibly hard to provide guests with good service, good food and good experiences. We would encourage any operators who experience walkouts to report it to the police.”

How to prevent 'dine and dash' cases in restaurants

According to research carried out by Barclaycard in 2018, six in 10 restaurant owners have seen customers leave without paying. The Metropolitan Police has eight helpful tips for restaurants designed to stop people from leaving without paying for their meals.

1. Keep it tidy: To prevent theft, keep your car park clean, well-lit, and with clear parking bay lines. Install CCTV with visible signage to deter thieves and make them think twice before leaving without paying.

2. Prevent an easy getaway: Minimise exit points and keep an eye on outside smoking areas that lead directly to the street. Have staff patrol the area and maintain good surveillance from inside the building.

3. Capture their faces: It is recommended you install CCTV in your restaurant and that it covers all exits. This not only deters crime, it also provides reassurance to customers and staff.

4. Own the door: Greet every customer to register their faces, demonstrating high customer care and attention. This makes potential thieves less likely to leave without paying the bill.

5. Cover the exit: Consider the position of the cash till for better crime prevention. A clear view of the entrance enhances security, but avoid placing the till too close to the front door.

6. Be engaging: Encourage staff to pay attention to your customers, make good eye contact and engage in polite conversation. The better the customer care, the less chance of anyone leaving without paying.

7. Get their number: Restaurants take mobile numbers for bookings and hotels ask for credit card details at check-in. Call customers a day before the booking to confirm and ensure authenticity.

8. Protect the business: If a party of diners arrives without having made a booking, it’s best to ask for a credit card before seating the group – particularly large parties.