I have recently started working at a local restaurant. Despite having only a few days of experience under my belt, my previous job experience in the field as a supervisor plus my strong responsibility ethic effectively gives me a sense of leadership.
It’s about 8:30 pm in the evening when a lone, older man walks in. He hasn’t done anything yet that would signal a red flag, but I assume that he has some sort of disability just by how he’s acting, such as when I direct him to a table; he sits in the bar. I am not a native Swedish speaker; I’m English but learning the language.
Me:
“How was your food, sir?”
Customer:
“Oh… I am praying.”
I give him a smile and a light tap on the shoulder. He then orders the most expensive item on our menu which should have been the first red flag. In my time working here, I’ve only seen one other person order that food, and in comparison to this gentleman, that customer looked as if he could afford it. Not five minutes after his food arrives, I see him putting his coat on and leaving.
Bartender:
“Did he pay with you?”
Me:
“No, but maybe he’s going out for a cigarette?”
Bartender:
“He said he was going home. Maybe he paid with [Coworker]?”
Me:
“Hold on; I’ll check the computer.”
His table’s still active, meaning he hasn’t paid. I run to the door and catch him as he’s just leaving the premises, and now I can see why he was being so strange before: he’s completely drunk. I usher him back inside, which he complies with. I think to myself that he’s probably just forgotten. That is until I get him sat down so he doesn’t keel over.
Customer:
“Listen… Do you think I’m f****** sitting here for f*** all?”
Me:
“No, sir, you just need to pay for your food and drink.”
I print out the receipt and hand it to him. However, he’s having none of it.
Customer:
“I already paid!”
Me:
“Who did you pay with, sir?”
Customer:
“Prove that I haven’t already paid yet.”
Me:
“Which person took your payment, sir? Can you show me your receipt? If you’ve paid, it’s no problem.”
Customer:
“Nope!”
I’m starting to get a little bit agitated by this guy; he’s clearly stalling and expects me to cave. He then starts actually pretending to not speak English and turns his aggression to the bartender. During this, I ask [Coworker] for the phone to call the police. After I get off the phone, the bartender prints off the customer’s receipt again. I show it to the customer.
Me:
“See, sir? She would not have been able to do that on the register had you already paid.”
Customer:
“You know what? Call the f****** police.”
This goes back and forth for quite some time. I get nowhere with the customer until the police show up. Whilst I’m waiting on him so he doesn’t do a runner, multiple tables are looking over at me expectantly; they haven’t had service yet. When the police arrive, I get the runner to take tables, and I go out to talk with the officers.
Policeman:
“Hi. Is he still here?”
Me:
“Yeah, just give me a moment, though? I want to give him one last chance before handing him to you.”
Policeman:
“Sure, we’ll wait here.”
Me:
“Okay, sir, the police are waiting outside. You can either settle this bill now or go with the police tonight. Your choice.”
Customer:
“I will talk with the police.”
Me:
“Fine. Hard way it is.”
He ended up talking with the police in Swedish. I didn’t understand it all but the gist was that the police gave him two options: arrest for theft or pay and leave. He chose the latter, thank God. But honestly, all that fuss over nothing? What the h*** was he expecting to happen?
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