Thieves steal tip jar from Cugini’s Pizzeria in Santa Maria

Cugini’s Pizzeria in Santa Maria is asking the community for help identifying two individuals caught on surveillance video stealing the employee tip jar.

The suspects, a man and a woman, are accused of taking the tip jar from the restaurant at about 3:15 Thursday afternoon.

“We work so hard here,” says Leslie Calderon, who was behind the counter when the thieves took off with the money. It’s just horrible how these people just take money.”

“We couldn’t believe it,” says Lousie Pippen, owner of Cugini’s. “These kids work hard for their money. She just put the tip jar under her jacket and walked out the door. It’s just a little bit of tips here and there but it is a lot to them.”

Frequent customers say they hope the thieves are brought to justice.

“I’m just absolutely shocked,” says Dee Cadiz, a frequent visitor to the restaurant. I’ve just never seen anybody do anything wrong in here.”

“I just think they need to be caught because that is not right.”