A New York woman was arrested late last month after leaving a $5,000 tip at a Clearwater restaurant.
Serina Wolfe, 24, of Buffalo was charged with grand theft after charging a $55.37 meal and $5,000 tip to her boyfriend’s credit card June 27 at Clear Sky Beachside Cafe, according to the Clearwater Police Department.
Wolfe had just eaten breakfast and left the tip at 9:30 a.m., according to an arrest affidavit.
Wolfe was upset with her boyfriend, Michael Crane, for refusing to buy her a ticket for a return flight to New York, according to the affidavit. Crane told investigators he believed Wolfe was drunk or trying to get back at him.
Following the argument about the plane ticket, Crane placed a hold on his credit card. He later removed the hold, and Wolfe made the purchase.
Asked about the charge, Wolfe initially denied making the purchase, Crane said. He reported it to his credit card company as fraudulent.
The company notified Clear Sky cafe, but the restaurant had already paid the waitress the $5,000 tip.
Wolfe later admitted to deputies she had used the credit card at the restaurant and turned over the card, according to the affidavit.
It will be up to the restaurant and waitress to work out whether she gets to keep the tip, police said.