POWAY, Calif. (KGTV) - The Ramona man caught stealing the tip jars at four Poway restaurants was ordered Tuesday to serve 10 days in San Diego County Jail.
Kenneth McDaniel, 20, distracted workers at six businesses on Poway Road before taking the tip jars, prosecutors said. The crimes happened over three days in January.
Restaurants targeted include:
- Greens Please
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
- Five Guys
- Taco Taco Poway
- Everbowl
- Baskin-Robbins
RELATED: East County residents help detectives identify tip jar suspect
Greens Please, an organic restaurant, caught the crime of surveillance video and posted the photo on Facebook. Members of the public identified McDaniel, who was arrested by Sheriff’s deputies.
McDaniel pleaded guilty to three counts of petty theft earlier this month. The court sentenced him to 10 days in custody and three years of probation. He must attend a shoplifter’s course and pay a $696 fine.
“As a former waitress, I know that restaurant employees count on tips to supplement their wages. I’m glad that these hard-working employees will be made whole,” San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott said. “As a prosecutor, I applaud the citizens who helped our law enforcement officers bring this criminal to justice.”
