Tip jars... be careful!

I ate at a Pho restaurant for dinner tonight.  They have a practice in all of the Vietnamese Pho restaurants that I've been in and it's to have a tip jar or can on the counter with the cash register.

I'm assuming they pool the tips because there really isn't one particular waiter that serves you.  One takes the order, another or two others serve you your food and maybe someone else asks how your food is...

While enjoying my bowl of Pho all of a sudden there was loud screaming and all of the waiters and cooks ran after the man who was just standing at the counter.  He had asked to see a menu and when everyone's back was turned he ran with the tip can.
 
They chased him a little and then realized that he could have had a knife or gun.

They learned a lesson tonight because they said there was probably about $75 dollars in that can.

If any of you have a tip can, remember to empty it at least once an hour.  That way if someone tries to steal it they won't get so much.

Thanks for the "tip"

Hello all ,

Great "tip" buddy .

Benzee

Or screw it down.
The trouble with emptying it is, if it's empty or near empty people tend not to put tips in it as quick as if it's nearly full. They want to do what others have done before them.
If you want more tips in the can, always put some of your own money in it when you start a shift, it will get filled up much quicker.
If you want quarters put in quarters, if you want 5 dollar bills put in 5 dollar bills, within reason for your business people want to follow what other people have done.

In the Louisville area there have been a rash of 'grab and run' robberies from convenience stores that have charity collection cans and jars near the register. Same with Church collection boxes in the lobbies of some churches. Apparently the 'impulse' theft has increased  a lot recently. The media tends to blame the 'economy' but a thief is a thief. Ripping off the donation-jar for a cancer-victim collection is a pretty low thing to do.

There was a story not too long ago here where a guy stole the money from a girl selling girl scout cookies at a gas station (I think).

I think as more and more people lose their jobs, this will become more and more common.  Especially when so many people are running out of unemployment benefits and all other options.  Yes, a thief is a thief, but people find themselves doing a lot of things they would have never considered if times weren't as desperate as they've become for some folks.

semi-related-
  A number of churches have had their A/C united stripped of the copper coils by 'vandals' (scrap metal rip-offs). Since many of the buildings are 'unattended for several days during the week they go 'undiscovered' many times until the weekend.

A charity that gives clothing away has been robbed four times recently here. They would be given what ever they asked for if they came in the front door. Evidently, they prefer to break in the back at night. 

In New York it would be Phogetaboutit.