A café owner has said an alleged dine and dash incident has 'broken his trust' after a trio reportedly left without paying a bill of almost £50. 

Mekin Erol, who runs Huffers Café in Hadleigh High Street, said his business was targeted at about 4pm on Friday, September 29.

He said three people, a man and a woman in their 40s and a woman who looked to be in her early 30s, ordered and ate £40.45 worth of food and drink while sitting outside the café with their dog. 

At about 5.45pm, Mr Erol said staff told the group that it was nearly closing time and asked them to come in and pay their bill, but it was while the waiters were cleaning up inside that they allegedly left without paying. 

"Most importantly, it’s broken our trust of people," said Mr Erol.

"In the past customers have forgotten their wallets and we have allowed them to pay the next day.

"We have never had anything like this in Hadleigh. We have always taken payment after customers have eaten, and never had a problem. We know this is unusual.

"We know these people have done this on purpose, it is in no way a mistake. 

"It’s hard enough times as it is trying to make a living, and then this happens."

A spokesman for Suffolk police confirmed officers received a report on Saturday morning that on Friday, September 29, at about 4pm, three people, two women and one man, who were sitting outside the café with a dog, had left without paying. 

The spokesman said the incident is currently under investigation.

Anyone with information related to the incident is being urged to contact Suffolk police, quoting crime reference number 37/57545/23.