EXCLUSIVEThe 'dine and dash' playbook exposed: How couple wanted over string of 'food thefts' across Wales 'pretend they can't pay their large bills by card, ask where the nearest cashpoint is - then do a runner'

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A couple accused of running a 'dine and dash' racket that has allegedly seen a string of restaurants targeted in the past year are thought to be deploying the same playbook wherever they go, MailOnline can reveal.

At least seven restaurants within a 30-mile radius across South Wales have come forward claiming to be victims of the pair dating as far back as August last year, it emerged today. 

The establishments claim the two arrive in a Blue Ford van, sit with large groups of people and order the most expensive dishes on the menu - typically steaks - before allegedly fleeing after the bill arrives.

MailOnline has been told that each member of the group allegedly orders at least two bottles of fizzy drinks each, as well as double helpings of desserts or starters. Once they finish, most of them allegedly leave the premises, leaving the woman to settle the tab.

She allegedly comes to the counter and claims that she cannot pay with her card, so asks for the nearest cashpoint - before allegedly walking out the door and 'doing a runner', it is understood.

Staff at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Swansea say they were the latest victims of this heist when the couple sat with a group of eight in their restaurant on Friday night and allegedly left without paying the £329 bill. 

The Somerset Arms in Port Talbot, The Longbow Beefeater in Pontyclun, the Chilli Too Indian restaurant in Clydach, La Casona in Skewen, the Riverhouse Lounge and Restaurant in Swansea and The Yard in Cowbridge believe that they are all victims of the 'dine and dashers'. 

Emily Langford, the manager of the family-run Yard pizza restaurant, claimed the group 'dashed off' before they paid their £151 tab. 

Do YOU know who they are? If so, email frankie.elliott@mailonline.co.uk 

FRIDAY: The couple with a large group at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Port Talbot

AUGUST 2023: The couple at the River House Lounge & Restaurant in Swansea 

The Somerset Arms in Port Talbot, The Longbow Beefeater in Pontyclun, the Chilli Too Indian restaurant in Clydach, La Casona in Skewen, the Riverhouse Lounge and Restaurant in Swansea and The Yard in Cowbridge believe that they are all victims of the 'dine and dashers'

FEBRUARY: The woman at the Mediterranean eatery La Casona, in Skewen

Ms Langford told MailOnline: 'They left the woman to pay. And she stood up and said 'Oh, is it okay? If I come to the bar to pay?' and we said that was fine.

'She was basically buttering me and my mum up and was saying lots of nice things to us. But as she put her card in it got declined. She was like 'oh that's weird' and it declined again. 

'She said she would call her son and sort out a bank transfer, but we weren't comfortable with that and asked if she could pay in cash and showed her where the nearest cash point was. 

'I showed her where it was and as I turned my head back through the door to tell my mum she was at the cash point, by the time I turned around again she was gone.' 

On Friday, CCTV footage showed the woman attempting to pay the bill with a savings account card,  which was declined twice.

She allegedly told staff her son would wait inside while she went to get her 'other card', but she did not return and moments later the boy had also vanished from the premises.

A similar trick was used by the couple at the River House last year, when they ran up a hefty bill whilst sitting on a table of five and 'promised' to get cash from the local cash point after their card got declined.

But the diners never returned, leading the restaurant owners to call the police.

Having been given the bill, CCTV footage shows the mother of the group attempting to pay with a savings account card which got declined twice

The mother allegedly told staff her son (left) would wait inside while she went to get her 'other card', but she did not return and moments later the boy had also vanished from the premises

On August 9, 2023, they posted a CCTV image of the couple in their establishment and wrote: 'Thank you so much to everyone for sharing. 12 positive identifications and the Police are now dealing with the information we have been given.

'Please SHARE to help identify these. They run up a very hefty bill (for 5) and 'promised' to get cash from the local cash point after their card got declined. We like to put some trust in people, but this was obviously carefully planned as they all just disappeared!'

After hearing the Bella Ciao story on Friday, the La Casona restaurant in Skewen, Neath, took to social media this weekend to share a similar story about the couple, who sat down to eat as a group of six on February 23.

According to the restaurant, four of the group left the building after finishing their meal, which cost nearly £300, leaving the mother to stay with a 'young boy' to pay.

The business posted a CCTV image of the mother, who told staff she would get another card from her car after the one she used was declined.

The restaurant asked the boy to wait with them whilst she went to the car, but he was gone 10 seconds later and never returned.

They wrote on Facebook: 'We asked the boy to stay and wait for her in the restaurant. She left, and 10 seconds after, the boy started to run to the car.

'We sent CCTV recordings, photos, and even the registration plate number. The response was: 'This vehicle is connected to many people…'

'Two months later, we called to ask about our case. There was no update, but the Officer would contact us... We believed reporting to the police would help to prevent such events for other restaurants—but apparently, it didn't.'

Tyrone Reese, manager of Bella Ciao, also said he was disappointed by the lack of urgency shown by the force to catch the perpetrators, adding: 'I'm paying my tax for police but I seem to be powerless. It annoys me to know this is happening and that they are getting away with it.'

To add insult to injury, the family-owned restaurant learned there was no way to contact the family as the number they used to take the booking was 'fake'. Mr Reese has now reported the incident to the police.

The dine and dash video he posted onto Bella Ciao's social media pages went viral over the weekend, with more than 12 million people viewing the post.

After publishing the clip, Mr Reese says he was bombarded with calls from other restaurants in the area, claiming they also had similar incidents with a family that had refused to pay.

But the video has actually helped Mr Reese's business as the following night he had tripled the number of bookings, something he described as a 'sign of solidarity' from the local community.

Leaving a restaurant without paying is a crime and carries a prison sentence of up to two years.

A South Wales Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'South Wales Police is investigating a number of reports of making off without payment from several businesses with our force area.

'Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances behind the incidents and to identify those involved.'