Fake waiter accepted money from patrons

HOBOKEN, N.J., April 20 (UPI) -- Police in New Jersey said a man tricked patrons at two restaurants into giving him a total of $186 by pretending to be a waiter.

Investigators said a man in his 20s with a spiky hair style approached two women dining at Hobson's Choice restaurant in Hoboken and accepted their $90 cash payment for their meal, The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, N.J., reported Monday.

The man was next spotted at Margherita's Pizza and Cafe at about 9 p.m. the same day and asked three women at a table if they were ready to pay, police said.

"He took the money from them and walked straight out of the restaurant," said Anthony Buzzerio, a manager at the restaurant.

The women told police they had given the man $96 for a $66 bill and had expected change.

Buzzerio said the restaurant was forced to comp the women's bill.

"Once we saw that they had put the money on the table -- we wouldn't charge the customers twice," he said.

"This is the first time I've come across something like this," Buzzerio said. "Hopefully he gets what's coming to him."