Two arrests follow dine-and-dash reports

Two people have been arrested following reports of multiple dine-and-dash offences in south Wales.

Italian restaurant Bella Ciao in Port Talbot was among those to allege offences. It said a family had ordered a large meal, including T-bone steaks, running up a £329 bill.

The owners claimed a female diner had said she would go and get a bank card from a car, but the whole group had left and not returned.

The owners of Bella Ciao described the incident in a social media post, which included a CCTV image of the alleged perpetrators. They later said they had been contacted by other operators claiming they had also been targeted by the group.

South Wales Police said two people have since been arrested. A spokesperson said: “Two people have been arrested following reports of several incidents of non-payment of restaurant bills and shoplifting.

“A 41-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman, both from Sandfields, Port Talbot, have been arrested for fraud (obtaining services dishonestly) and theft offences. They are currently in police custody at Swansea Central police station.”

The investigation is ongoing.