Waitress, 20, KIDNAPPED and violently assaulted after chasing five people who tried to walk out on $70 bill
A TWENTY-year-old waitress was kidnapped and violently assaulted on Saturday night after she tried to chase down five people who dined and dashed on a $70 bill.
The woman, who the police have not named, was later pushed out of the car and managed to run back to the restaurant to alert the police before being taken to the hospital.
Cops have released surveillance video grabs of the three men and two women involved and the car they were driving, as shocking footage shows the moment the waitress was snatched into the vehicle.
The attack happened at around 11.15pm on Saturday at the Nifty Fifties in Washington Township, New Jersey.
The waitress had served the group before they tried to walk out without paying the $70 check.
Surveillance footage shows them beginning to drive away in a White Dodge Durango with New Jersey tags as the waitress rushes through the front door and races toward the vehicle.
A woman is seen fleeing the car before the victim was pulled inside and it drove off.
“They pulled her into the vehicle and assaulted her inside the vehicle,” Washington Township Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik told WPVI.
“The vehicle headed north on Route 42, made a U-turn, and was heading south towards Monroe Township, and pushed her out of the vehicle.”
Gurcsik said the car had traveled less than a mile before it turned around again and could have been heading back to pick up the woman who initially fled on foot.
“It’s a brazen abduction, it’s a robbery, it’s a potential kidnapping,” he added.
The victim did not have her phone on her when she was taken and so went back to the restaurant to alert authorities.
She suffered bruises and a concussion in the attack but has since been released from the hospital.
Other employees and customers were disturbed by the incident in what they called a “family restaurant.”
“Say it ain’t so,” employee John Hill told WPVI.
“This is crazy,” added customer Stacie Garris-Oliver.
The suspects are still at large and the public is asked to contact the Washington Town Police department with any information.
The group was lasted driving the white dodge Durango on Rt. 42 south near Monroe Township.
Gurcsik said the waitress was lucky not to be more badly hurt.
He advised that servers do not chase after people who run out on the bill to confront them.
Most read in News
“They’re having trouble finding wait staff due to the pandemic and she came out to confront them,” said Gurcsik.
The police chief said it is better to take down the license plate of the vehicle if possible and report it to authorities.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 856-589-0330 ext 1160.