Shocking tip jar theft caught on security camera at Zinc Restaurant

Security camera footage at Zinc Restaurant has captured a young man stealing money from the restaurant’s tip jar in an incident that has left staff disheartened and frustrated.

Shevyn Perera, Venue Manager at Zinc Restaurant, recounted the events, explaining that an American family had come in for dinner as walk-in customers, meaning the restaurant had no booking details or contact information. 

“They seemed nice, had their meal, and everything was fine,” Mr Perera said. However, by the end of the night, staff noticed something was wrong.

“My colleague pointed out that the tip jar, which usually had around $100 - $150, was suddenly down to just $15,” Mr Perera explained.

It wasn’t until the following day, after reviewing the security footage, that the truth became clear. The video showed the family’s son quietly taking cash notes from the tip jar as they left.

“Our tip jar isn’t a proper jar, it’s just a water glass but normally the area is busy enough that no one could just reach in and steal without being noticed,” Mr Perera remarked. 

“I’ve worked here for over two years, and nothing like this has ever happened before. It’s really disheartening. Although most tips come from card payments nowadays, the cash tips still add up to a significant amount, probably a couple hundred dollars.

Despite having clear footage of the theft, the restaurant chose not to report the incident to the police due to a lack of contact details. 

“We have no phone number, no booking information, just a first name, which might not even be real. Plus, they were probably tourists and have already left the area,” Mr Perera explained.

The incident was shared in a local Facebook group, sparking outrage among community members, though no one recognised the individual in question.