Surveillance video captures Brainerd tip stealers in action [VIDEO]

By Aaron Rupar Fri., Feb. 1 2013 at 9:11 AM

This woman and an accomplice worked together to steal tips, and probably would've gotten away with it if it wasn't for the security cam footage.

It's one thing to steal, another to rip off a hard-working server making minimum wage. And it's a third thing to get caught in the act on camera.

SEE ALSO: Teens face felonies after allegedly stealing cop radio and broadcasting, "F**k the police"

But all three of those things recently happened at Brainerd's Sunshine Kitchen & Moonshine Lounge. Owners took the savvy step of posting surveillance footage of the tip swipers on YouTube, and according to the Star Tribune, "the restaurant fielded numerous calls from people who said they recognized the women and passed along their names" within a day.

Here it is, complete with running commentary:

According to the Strib, a server and single mom with two kids named Kristy Lemcke ended up getting up to $100 stolen.

After receiving a number of tips, the Sunshine Kitchen's owners passed along information about the thieves' identities to the Brainerd police. A Brainerd officer was "not surprised by the names we gave them," owner Phil Holbrook told the Strib. "He said no doubt they'll be bringing them in shortly."

Tags:

Brainerd

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keny1

The thieves must be Liberals. They think that other people's money belongs to them.

ForAllMankind

1 Like

@keny1 I am a conservative, and i must say that it's idiotic stuff like this that gives us a bad name. How about posting something relevant to the article and video rather than using it for your own political views. It is selfish, and makes you look even dumber than you must already be, along with making conservatives look bad. Please, do the world a favor and go die so that evolution can take its course and rid the world of people like you. Thanks

blotto5

@ForAllMankind Your party needs more level headed people like you, unfortunately people like keny1 are louder and get all the spotlight, making you all look like idiots.

Branden Strot

why does she have to be a single mother of two? cant she just be someone who had their money stolen?

Kari Sachs

1 Like

That's why I always make sure my server or barkeep have their tip in hand before I leave. I never leave cash just laying there.

swmnguy topcommenter

@Kari Sachs That's a good practice. In this case, though, it seems the server had collected her tips, but put them in a jar at the wait station where the thief swiped them. It would be better if the restaurant provided a safer place for staff to put their tips, but they often don't (or can't).

Bryce Alan Ginsberg Larson

1 Like

Having worked with Kristy in Brainerd, I'm glad these f'ers got caught. She is so sweet and her kids are that much more sweet!

Chris Pederson

It's interesting that this woman stealing tips will be humiliated and the server won't lose her job, but when this server did it she wasn't so lucky... http://news.softpedia.com/news/Applebee-s-Fires-Waitress-Posting-Pastor-s-Tip-Complaint-325770.shtml