We arrived at this restaurant at around 7pm on Saturday, I was with my wife, our two children and our friends Andy and Becky who also had their children with them. I had taken my black leather folder and pen with me as Andy and I were discussing important matters so I figured it would be a good idea to take down some notes.
As soon as we had finished our meal, it was evident that it was time to go home (kids...need I say anymore), so we put our coats on, I squared up the bill and we left. Shortly after, I realised that I had forgotten my black leather folder and pen at the restaurant so I immediately called the restaurant and spoke to a waiter who I know as 'Gee'.
I told him that I had left my black leather folder behind and he immediately said that they found it. I was relieved and asked to confirm that my pen was still in the folder. He was very clear in his response. 'There was no pen, just a folder'. I had stressed that the pen was definitely in the folder when I left and that it was a very expensive gold plated Cartier pen.
I asked 'Gee' who it was that had found the folder and he said it was 'one of the waiters'.
I was curious....
I called my brother Vishal and asked him to collect my file. He immediately went to the restaurant and said that 'Gee' gave him the file and another member of staff 'Balli' was trying to help him find the pen but the task was unsuccessful.
Vishal then asked 'Gee' if he could view the CCTV and 'Gee' replied to say that they were too busy and that the CCTV wouldn't bee clear enough anyway.
When I spoke to my brother Vishal, he said that he was of the opinion that 'Gee' knew more than he was saying. The next morning I went to the restaurant myself to view the CCTV footage and what happened next had me speechless.
There was a clear shot of 'Gee' picking up the black file (remember he said his staff had picked it up) and as he picked it up a pen fell out of it and he immediately picked the pen up and walked on. This in itself was shocking as he had previously denied all and any knowledge of the pen.
Balli, who I believe to be the manager was with me when he saw this footage as were some other staff. They all looked very embarrassed. I asked Balli to call the restaurant owner immediately to resolve this matter. Balli called him and then advised me that he is on his way to the restaurant to meet me.
OMG! Get ready for what happened next. The waiter 'Gee' walks into the restaurant looking somewhat stressed and flustered and approached me and put his hand out to shake my hand. Now anyone that knows me, knows that I value integrity. I can't be fake and shake a mans hand when I have evidence that what he told me was un true and that he is VERY likely to have my pen. Rather than shaking his hand I simply said 'I'd like my pen back thanks. Now most, if not all people would probably expect an embarrassed response and apology. I didn't get that. INSTEAD I was immediately met with a massive amount of aggression, temper, shouting and threats of violence. Yep, he threatened to take me out and 'smash my head in'....a fit of rage. Now I had two choices. 1, was to be bullied and 2, was to stand up for myself. Now you know I wouldn't be bullied so I simply stood up and looked him straight in the eye and told him with crystal clear certainty that I wasn't scared of him and that I wont be spoken to that way. I then immediately called the police and was advised that they were on the way. During the wait 'Gee' continued with his threats and I firmly stood my ground.
Shortly after, the police arrived and viewed the CCTV footage. At this point 'Gee' advised the police that he had dropped his waiters pad however the police were very clear on their stance and said 'Look, you didn't drop and pick up your pad, a pen dropped out of the file and you picked up, where is it?'. 'G' then went onto suggest it was his BIC pen. The police continued to view other angles of the CCTV footage until they found footage of 'Gee' putting the 'file' down behind the till at the bar. The police searched the area to see if the pen was there but couldn't find it. The police officer then had a word with me and explained that they couldn't do anything as the footage didn't show 'Gee' putting the pen in his pocket and that it could have subsequently been picked up by anyone so they couldn't do anything about it. The police officer had made clear that 'IF' the footage showed him actually placing the pen in his pocked than he could have arrested him. By now it was clear that I was wasting my valuable time so I left to get back home to my family. Before I left I made my belief very clear; 'I BUY Cartier pens, you STEAL them?'
Since then the owner called me on Sunday and said he would watch the CCTV footage himself, address the matter and call me back. Its now Friday and I have had no calls.
I'm disappointed that the owner hasn't proactively resolved this matter. read more
