Indian restaurant offers intruder the chance of a job if he mends his ways

By Richard Siddle

Published: 24 September, 2013

An Indian restaurant in Margate has come up with a novel way of dealing with a persistent intruder who keeps making off with wine and premium cooking ingredients - it is willing to offer them them a job if they can prove they can be a reformed character.

The Ambrette in Margate says the local burglar is becoming as regular as some of its more frequent guests. But rather than steal money, they clearly have a taste for the finer things in life as they have raided its kitchen for ingredients including filo pastry, cream and coconut chutney, which could all be washed down with cooking wine that he also takes.

The intruder has been captured three times in the last week alone on CCTV making their getaway from the award-winning Indian eaterie.

Chef and patron Dev Biswal said: "He manged to get in on Sunday night, stealing cooking wine and filo pastry, cream, chillis, ginger, honey and coconut chutney. The prefect ingredients for making delicious vegetarian appetisers."

He is also becoming increasingly brave, with his latest venture into the kitchens taking place at 9.30pm during service where he also helped himself to a member of staff's jacket.

"At least he'll be wearing new clothes for his next attempt," said Biswal.

Police are said to be "studying" the tapes and expect to make an early arrest of the susepct who is thought to live nearby.

The Ambrette is even offering an incentive of a meal for two for anyone that comes forward with information that leads to an arrest.

But rather than look to throw the full force of the law at their culinary intruder, the Ambrette would rather offer rehabilitation.

"If the person responsible turns himself in and gives back the jacket, Dev will offer to train the man as a kitchen porter, trainee chef or waiter," said a spokesman. "If they then prove themself to be a reformed character and deal with any underlying drug or drink issues, there could even be the offer of employment."

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