Bar owners warn of man who dines, drinks and dashes

San Francisco - Bar owners across San Francisco and beyond are comparing notes and sharing photos of a man they say has repeatedly stiffed them on bar tabs.

"His MO is, he walks into a bar, orders a shot of tequila and a draft cider or draft beer, and he sits down," said Kevin DeMattia, owner of Emperor Norton's Boozeland in the Tenderloin. "In the interim when he gets his drinks, and the time to pay, he'll make up some excuse, ‘Oh I forgot my credit card, I have to get some cash’ "

The man, Jared Scott, 36, then tries to drink as much of his alcohol as he can before walking out, DeMattia said.

When asked by bar staff if he wants to use their ATM, he frequently says he doesn't want to pay their ATM fees and will go to his own bank's ATM.

"I do want to say we have bigger fish to fry as small business owners. This is more of an annoyance," DeMattia said.

There are no pending cases against Scott in San Francisco.

But that's not the case in San Mateo County, where he's been charged with several similar incidents.

"Somebody doing something like this endlessly, it can really affect the business, so I'm very sympathetic to the restaurant owners," said San Mateo County DA Steve Wagstaffe.

Scott has been charged with dining and dashing at Pausa Bar & Cookery at a sushi restaurant a year ago in San Mateo.

"On one occasion he used the excuse of ‘I’ve gotta go to an ATM to get money.' He walks out and does not pay for it and is not seen again," Wagstaffe said.

On New Year's Eve, San Bruno police arrested him for allegedly stiffing Red Lobster. He was cited and released, and bar owners say they've seen him in their establishments since.

"I just wish he would stop. We just all want him to stop doing it. Just leave us alone. Stop robbing us," DeMattia said.

Henry Lee is as KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan