A man in Wenzhou ordered hotpot worth over 200 yuan, pretended to order cucumber, then fled before paying. The owner noticed but failed to stop him and reported the incident to police.

Social Context

Dine-and-dash incidents fall under Article 264 of China’s Criminal Law (theft) when intent is proven, though small-value cases are often handled administratively under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law. Mobile payment prevalence has reduced such fraud, but cash-based eateries remain vulnerable—prompting local ‘integrity dining’ certification programs.

Safety Tip

Restaurants should install visible security cameras at entrances and require pre-payment or QR-code verification before food service begins.