Waiter Walks Off With Customer's Credit Cards: Police

Dallas police say a waiter at Kona Grill in Dallas’ NorthPark Center stole credit cards from several customers during happy hour Friday night.

One of the victims, a Dallas lawyer who did not want to be identified, said the waiter asked for her credit card to start a tab at the bar.

“I didn’t even think about it when I handed over my credit card,” she said. “At bars, they do that all the time; it didn't seem unusual the way he asked for it.”

But then the waiter disappeared.

“We called over the manager, and he explained that the waiter walked off from the job,” the victim said.

“It was certainly a shock to have it happen there with so many tables and everything else,” she said. ”You wouldn’t think it would happen in that situation."

Dallas police said the man left with five credit cards.

“This not the first time it's happened, and it won't be the last time that someone at a restaurant steals a credit card,” Senior Cpl. Janice Crowther said.

"This is not one of those things you plan for," said Jeff Cox, general manager of Kona Grill. "We try and handle it to the best of our abilities.”

The lawyer whose credit card was stolen said the restaurant handled it as well could be expected.

“Kona Grill did everything right," she said. "They were really nice and apologetic and got the cops there within minutes."

Police said all of the victims called their credit card companies and immediately canceled their cards. Police said that's the best thing to do to keep a thief from running up charges on the account.

Police said they are getting a warrant for the arrest of the waiter. Cox said the man no longer works at the restaurant.