Island Tap Customer Busted After Reaching Behind Bar, Stealing Tips

There are customers who are lousy tippers, and then there's this.

A customer at Island Tap on Park Avenue was charged with larceny April 6 at 8:04 p.m. for allegedly reaching over the bar and stealing a bag of money and running out the door.

Police said Jorge Antonio Schoen-Cruz, 35, of 576 Park Ave., Portsmouth, was seen reaching for the bag by a bartender coming back inside after stepping out for a smoke.

The bartender told police upon arrival that she knew the suspect because he is a frequent customer to the bar. The bag contained $415 cash and consisted of tip money, police said.

Witnesses reportedly saw Schoen-Cruz run to his house which happened to be next door to the bar and when police got there, he reportedly slammed the door moments after his mother answered the officers’ knocks.

When Schoen-Cruz did come outside, police said, he initially denied taking any money. But the bartender was able to provide an accurate description of his clothing, police said, and he soon admitted to taking the cash once he was at police headquarters.

Officers were able to locate the money hidden under a chair inside his house.