A 50-year-old Lithuanian man living in Spain has been arrested for an unusual string of frauds in which he repeatedly faked heart attacks to avoid paying restaurant bills. The incidents, which came to light in 2023, had been occurring for more than a year.
According to local police, the man attempted this deception on at least 20 occasions at different high-end restaurants, to the point that he became a familiar figure to law enforcement officers.
The most recent case took place at El Buen Corner, a restaurant in Alicante. On that occasion, he ordered two whiskies and a seafood paella, with the bill totaling €34.85 (approximately $36.75).
Staff members noticed him trying to slip away without paying. When confronted, he first claimed he was going to fetch cash from his hotel room. When they refused to let him leave, he dramatically collapsed to the floor, pretending to suffer a heart attack.
The staff, however, were not deceived. Police were immediately called, and upon arrival, the officers recognized the man from previous cases and placed him under arrest.