Cafe owners are warning others to stay alert after a woman was allegedly caught on CCTV stealing tip jars from multiple small businesses.
Security footage from several cafes on the Gold Coast, Queensland, appears to show the same woman waiting for staff to become distracted before slipping tip jars into her handbag and walking out within seconds.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Gold Coast cafes hit in alleged tip jar theft spree
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At Goya Cafe in Broadbeach, CCTV captured the woman browsing near the counter before allegedly putting the entire jar in her bag while staff were busy.
“Five seconds and she’s gone,” cafe owner Chana Murakawa said.
About an hour later, another cafe in Southport was targeted in a similar way.
Then days later, more footage emerged from BSKT Cafe in Miami, where another tip jar disappeared.
“We quickly looked back on camera and couldn’t believe it,” owner Sonia Griggins said.
“She’s doing the rounds.”
Business owners say the alleged thefts have stretched from Broadbeach to Miami, Coolangatta and Kirra over the past two weeks, with Beefy’s Pies and Cafe All Sorts among the businesses affected.
For some cafes, the losses go beyond missing cash.
Jennifer Roch said the stolen jar from her business contained donations for animal rescue organisation 4Paws.
“Ours was a charity jar, so we donate to 4Paws charity and people put tips in, so there was a fair bit in there,” she said.
At Goya Cafe, staff say the jar contained about six months’ worth of tips.
“So we are warning everyone,” Murakawa said.
“This lady is dangerous.”
One business owner said staff initially chose not to report the incident to police because they thought the woman may have been struggling financially.
But after similar incidents emerged across the Gold Coast, they changed their minds.
“We work hard for our money and it’s for charity,” Roch said.
The incidents have since been widely shared on social media as business owners attempt to identify the woman and warn other cafes.
Queensland Police are now investigating and appealing for information.
