A female-owned restaurant in Casper, Wyoming, is seeking community assistance to identify a family of four accused of leaving without paying a $130 bill.
Zoey Aldahash, owner of Sweet Zoey Mediterranean, stated that the group ordered a variety of dishes, including appetizers, drinks, entrees, and desserts, during a lunch service last May. According to Aldahash, the four individuals then left together, getting into a car and driving away.
Instead of contacting the police, Aldahash posted a surveillance image of the group on the restaurant's Facebook page, asking for help from the local community. She explained that such incidents significantly impact small businesses, affecting labor, ingredients, and operational costs.
Aldahash also noted that she left the possibility open for the situation being an honest mistake, stating on social media, "If this was a mistake, please contact us and make it right."
The post generated discussion among locals, with some suggesting reporting the incident to the police or implementing a pay-before-you-eat policy. Others criticized Aldahash for posting the image, especially as two members of the group appeared to be teenagers.
Rebekah Ladd, a spokeswoman for the Casper Police Department, advised caution when posting images of suspected dine-and-dashers online, as it could lead to misidentification or harassment, particularly if juveniles are involved. "Businesses should be especially cautious when juveniles may be involved... particularly when the full circumstances are not known," Ladd told Cowboy State Daily.
Aldahash stated her decision not to involve the police was influenced by a previous dine-and-dash incident at her restaurant in 2024. She reported that five customers had ordered multiple entrees and left without paying. Aldahash claimed that her subsequent requests for updates on the case went unanswered, and no resolution was reached. "In my previous experience, calling the police didn't work," she said. "There was no help, so I didn't contact the police the second time."
Casper police reportedly receive around 20 to 30 dine-and-dash reports annually, though some restaurant owners do not always report such incidents. Aldahash, originally from Iraq and a former architectural engineer, established Sweet Zoey Mediterranean in 2022 after starting her business by selling homemade baklava at a farmers market. The restaurant later moved to a commercial kitchen before opening its current full-service location.
Despite the unpaid bill, Aldahash expressed that the support from loyal customers has been encouraging. The identities of the four individuals have not been confirmed, and the $130 bill remains outstanding. "You come in and order this much, and just leave without paying?" Aldahash questioned. "Who are these people?"
