Italian pizzeria owner tracks down ‘dine, dash’ tourists

An Italian pizzeria owner has taken the internet by storm for her bravery after she successfully managed to track down a pair of “dine and dash” tourists and to hand them the bill.

Michela Malatini of the Ai Due Re pizzeria successfully located the “dine and dash” culprits by using security camera footage, and personally collected the €44 bill from their apartment next morning.

Primarily, two French woman who had enjoyed pizza at Ai Due Re pizzeria in Civitanova Marche, accumulating a €44 bill left without paying.

However, Michela told local media that the pair arrived without a reservation and had ordered two pizzas and four spritzes.

She said, “When it was time to pay, they got up and slowly walked out of the door.”

The pizzeria owner shared a CCTV photo on Facebook. With the help of people's responses, she was immediately able to trace them at a holiday apartment in the town.

According to Michela Malatini, our staff worked hard and seeing customers attempting to walk away without paying for their food is unethical.

She was praised for her intelligence and bravery by commentators on Instagram.

“Dine and dash” is also an increasing concern in other European countries.

In July, UK restaurant executives also expressed concerns over the financial and mental impacts of such incidents.