Tiverton’s Pine House Kitchen and Bar Catches Condiment Thief Red-Handed on Camera [VIDEO]

Tiverton's Pine House Kitchen & Bar encountered a rather amusing, yet frustrating, incident on Wednesday, September 25th, when a customer—dubbed the "Unseasoned Criminal"—attempted to walk off with more than just a meal.

In this episode of "People Doing Dumb Things", the thief, now properly referred to as "Backwards Hat Boy," tried to swipe the restaurant’s mini salt and pepper shakers. His method? A not-so-sly “cough into a napkin” maneuver, which failed to fool anyone, least of all Pine House’s keen eye of an owner, Jared Machado.

“I was observing the bar and saw a gentleman grab something and quickly put it in his pocket,” Machado explained during an interview on the Fun Morning Show with Michael Rock and Gazelle. “At first, I thought it was his keys, but then I looked closer and realized he was taking our salt shakers.”

Despite a quick rewatch on the security cameras confirming the heist in action, the culprit had already received his bill, making it too late to intervene. A lighthearted warning from the bartender—"Make sure you leave our salt shakers!"—was met with laughter as the unseasoned criminal bolted for the door.

The absurdity didn’t stop there. According to Machado, this thief wasn’t just content with the salt shakers; he also helped himself to the French fries from a random customer's plate. “He even took some guy’s leftover fries,” Machado said with a mix of humor and disbelief.

While the shakers may be small, Machado pointed out that they’re quite popular with customers—so much so that Pine House even sells them for $4 apiece. “We were hoping people wouldn’t take them, but they do,” he laughed.

In response to the incident, Pine House has upped its condiment security, moving items like ketchup and mustard to safer spots and zooming in their cameras. “We’ve got extra security now because of that,” Machado noted, adding, “It all adds up.”

As for the "Salt & Pepper Bandit," Machado has offered a reward: anyone with information leading to the culprit’s capture will receive a free meal and a pair of the very shakers the bandit pilfered.

Think you’ve spotted this salty scoundrel? Share any tips on Pine House’s Facebook page, and don’t forget to tag "Salt & Pepper Bandit Boy" if you’ve seen him.