‘I can’t stop’: Diners are stealing from restaurants—and posting about it on TikTok

Restaurant diners can be a sticky-fingered bunch. Who hasn’t been tempted to slip a particularly nice cocktail glass or a tiny saltshaker into their bag after lunch?

But as dining out gets more expensive, more people seem determined to get their money’s worth, swiping everything from cups and plates to steak knives and even cheese graters. And not only are they getting away with it, they’re proudly flaunting their loot online.

​​In a viral video with more than 900,000 views, one creator boldly holds up a stolen cheese grater and asks, “What’s the best thing you’ve ever stolen from a restaurant?”

Rather than backlash, the comments section reads like a confessional. “Spoons. little baby spoons. from every restaurant. every time. I can’t stop,” wrote one user. “I need to step up my game. I just have little sauce containers,” added another. 

For some, the habit has turned into a full-blown collection. In another video, a TikToker proudly displays a stash of stolen bowls, cutlery, jugs, and glasses. “I really enjoy these – it’s why I have so many,” she says of her small black soy sauce bowls. “That’s my collection,” she concludes cheerfully. “I am going to be getting more soon.”

Some restaurants are leaning in to the joke. Upscale London restaurant Sexy Fish stamps the bottom of its chopstick holders with a label that reads: “Stolen from Sexy Fish.” Another London eatery, the Ivy Asia, marks its fish-shaped table ornaments with a similar disclaimer: “Stolen from The Ivy Asia.”

But not everyone is laughing. Creator YoungKaren called out the trend as a clear case of “normalized theft,” saying that even otherwise “normal” people seem to pocket items without considering the impact—especially on smaller businesses. “If I was sitting with you and you stole something, I would tell the waiter on you,” she warned. “Even if you’re my friend, I still would.”

Anyone who’s worked in or run a small business knows how fast those “harmless” thefts add up. Replacing stolen dishes, cutlery, and glassware isn’t just annoying—it’s expensive. And ultimately, those costs are passed on to other diners. So while that copper mug might look great in your home bar, just remember: Someone else is paying for it.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91304947/diners-stealing-from-restaurants-and-posting-on-tiktok?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss