Police are hunting a 'dine and dash' couple who are suspected of preying on hard-pressed restaurants in a seaside resort.<br /><br />The young couple are believed to be racking up large bills in restaurants in Southend, Essex, before doing a runner without paying their bill.<br /><br />Today the latest victim of the young couple spoke out and told how his business was being hit by 'dine and dashers' once every two months.<br /><br />Steve Yeung, 52, the owner of The Pearl Dragon in Southend, Essex, said in the latest incident on Sunday (Feb 18), a man and woman fled without paying their £127 bill.<br /><br />After posting CCTV stills of the pair on Facebook, Mr Yeung said many other businesses had come forward and it seemed they are prolific in the area.<br /><br />Mr Yeung said: "So many people have called, emailed or come into the restaurant and the couple are apparently well known for leaving without paying.<br /><br />"They're known for doing it - yet I had no clue until it happened to me.<br /><br />"Maybe we should have been pre-warned that two people were doing it all over the local area to such a degree - people just don't want to go to the police over one bill.<br /> <br />"This restaurant is my home and I have the same feeling as if someone came into my residential home and stole from me. They’ve abused our trust."<br /><br />The CCTV images show a bearded man and woman in a long grey coat entering the restaurant which has been run by Mr Yeung's family since 1978. <br /><br />The brazen pair - believed to be in their 30s - tucked into prawns on toast, ribs and crispy duck before washing it down with cokes and lemonades. <br /><br />They then left without paying the bill for their four starters, four main courses and up to eight soft drinks. <br /><br />Mr Yeung said: "Dining and dashing has definitely gone up in recent years, it used to be once in a blue moon – it was so infrequent you could remember each one.<br /><br />"We now probably see them now every couple of months with the one before this in December or November time, leaving behind a £180 bill.<br /><br />"As a business, you have to become more aware of it and it does unfortunately mean you become judgemental. <br /><br />"It shouldn’t have to be like that – I hate it has come to this.”<br /><br />The Pearl Dragon has not only seen an increase in customers not paying their bills, but was also victim to being burgled four times in two weeks last July.<br /><br />Mr Yeung said: “The £127 is not something we as a business can absorb and that was a lot of food and drink. <br /><br />"We started getting suspicious a couple of hours in because the gentleman kept going outside and in and outside again.<br /><br />"To begin with, there was nothing to be concerned about - there was nothing excessive – no lobster, or alcoholic drinks.<br /><br />"We can't let this kind of incident beat us but it's just incredibly depressing."<br /><br />Essex Police confirmed they are investigating the incident.<br /><br />A spokesman said: “We have received an allegation of theft that took place at a restaurant in Eastern Esplanade, Southend, on Sunday 18 February.<br /><br />"It was reported a man and woman ordered food at the restaurant and left without paying."
