A Lithuanian man was arrested in Spain after staging fake heart attacks in around 20 restaurants in different countries. He pretended to have a heart attack to avoid paying the bill. The 50-year-old male expat pulled off the same dramatic act in almost every restaurant he visited and they were mostly located in Costa Blanca.
“It was very theatrical, he pretended to faint and slumped himself down on the floor,” a restaurant manager said.
Another owner of a restaurant shared that the old man ordered several glasses of whiskey and a salad and then when it was time to pay the bill he started faking a heart attack. The 50-year-old man’s picture is already being shared by restaurants as a warning. He is seen lying on the floor as if he is having a heart attack.
The Lithuanian man was then arrested and jailed for 42 days after refusing to pay two fines in connection to his “outrageous series of theatrical dine and dashes.” “It was very theatrical, he pretended to faint and slumped himself down on the floor,” the manager of El Buen Comer said. “We have sent his photo around to all the restaurants to try and stop him from striking again.”
The man was at a restaurant in Alicante, El Buen Comer, enjoying some seafood paella and a few shots of whisky. After he was done the staff brought 34.85 euros ($37) bill. When the waiter handed the bill and left his table, the man just got up and tried to leave. Fortunately, he was stopped and was asked to pay the bill.
The scammer was upset and it was quite visible through his face. He said he was going to get the money from his hotel room, but the staff didn’t let him leave. It was at this point that he fell and started faking a heart attack.
The restaurant staff knew what he was up to and didn’t fall for the theatrical performance. Instead of calling an ambulance notified the local police about the whole situation. When the officers arrived at the scene, the policemen had already recognized him from run-ins at other restaurants in Alicante.
The man’s incident was considered a small amount of money, a lawyer said and so they’re only deemed as “minor crimes” and wouldn’t lead to a longer sentence.
Still, a few restaurant owners are looking to file a joint complaint that could put him behind bars for at least two years with some fine.
