Leaving a restaurant without paying, or doing a ‘simpa’, may seem like an unimportant act to those who carry it out. But the National Police has warned through its TikTok profile that it is actually criminal conduct.
In a video published by the security force, it is explained that “if you leave without paying for what you consume in an establishment you could be committing a crime of fraud.” The consequences of doing a ‘simpa’ can range from fines in minor cases to eight years in prison for aggravated cases.
Although customer behavior can be unpredictable, leaving an establishment without paying for what is consumed is a big blow for hoteliers, especially when they have to balance cash. Faced with this, some restaurants have taken quite curious measures, such as the case of a place in Belgium that asks for a shoe from each customer as collateral, which is returned when paying the bill.
