Crime reduction 

Bilking

'Bilking' is when a customer leaves without paying for goods or services. This crime can be committed against restaurants, service stations, taxi drivers or in a number of other situations.

How to report bilking to the police

If the crime is in progress, call 999. Otherwise, call 101, the 24-hour Thames Valley Police non-emergency number.

Give police as much information as you possibly can, including:

• A description of the person/people involved.
• A description of any vehicle(s) involved, including: make and model, colour, registration number, their direction of travel.
• The monetary value of the goods or services that they have not paid for.
• Whether the person/people involved made any attempt to pay for the goods or services.

If there is a dispute over service or cost and the customer refuses to pay but leaves their details with you after you accept their offer to do so, this is a civil matter, not a police matter. However, if someone leaves false details with the intention of not paying, then they may have committed a criminal offence.