PEARLAND, Texas – Two Pearland businesses say they were targeted by the same man, a month apart, who was caught on surveillance camera stealing a tip jar.
The tip jar at Killeen’s BBQ disappeared in the middle of Friday’s busy rush. Owner Ronnie Killen went through the surveillance video and noticed a man in a plaid shirt standing at the counter with a cellphone to his ear. What you don’t see in the video is a cashier.
VIDEO: Man caught on camera stealing from tip jar
Killen said that’s because the man asked the cashier for a printed menu to get her away from the counter.
“As soon as she walked out from behind the cashier area is when he came over here and he was acting like he was on the phone and just slipped it underneath his shirt and just walked out the door,” Killen said.
The man made off with close to $200, money intended for employees.
Employees at Bayou City Grill told KPRC2 they recognize the tip jar snatcher. Their cameras captured the same man swiping their tip jar back in January.
“I didn't even notice the tip jar because it was gray," server Shelby Taylor said. “It kind of just blended in with everything.”
Talyor estimates $60 to $70 was in the jar that day. She said it might not sound like a lot of money to most people, but servers and restaurant staff depend on those tips to make ends meet.
The man has not yet been caught.