A repeat offender who skipped out on paying for meals at restaurants and amassed a $1,000 bill at a chain restaurant was caught in the act after his sneaky tactic was uncovered.

A MAN accused of stealing nearly $1,000 in sushi and drinks from a restaurant chain has been busted after his sneaky dine-and-dash tactics backfired.

The individual, who had caused trouble at two Sushi Confidential restaurants in California, was apprehended when he attempted to escape without settling his bill once more.

Randy Musterer, the owner of Sushi Confidential, shared on Instagram that the staff at the Campbell branch in the San Francisco Bay area were well aware of the suspect’s tactics and were ready for him.

They spotted him dining alone Sunday night, wearing a hat and hoodie and trying to stay under the radar.

As soon as the suspect was served, staff closed out his check to see if he’d try his usual escape.

The suspect asked for the bathroom and tried to sneak out the back.

A busser was already waiting at the back door and caught him in the act.

The suspect panicked, turned around, and walked through the restaurant back to the front door.

But the chase didn’t stop there.

Musterer, who watched the scene unfold on security cameras, quickly called the Campbell police.

Then, he took matters into his own hands and drove around town in search of the suspect.

He eventually spotted him near Coach’s Sports Bar in Campbell.

According to Musterer’s Instagram post, he called the police again, and within minutes, three patrol cars surrounded the man.

It turned out he had an open arrest warrant, Musterer claimed in his post.

Police arrested the suspect, CW local affiliate KRON4 reported.

The man had been dining and dashing for two months, leaving a trail of unpaid bills at the two Sushi Confidential locations, Musterer said.

Musterer and his team had been on high alert, keeping a photo of the thief on hand.

They were ready when he returned for his final act of theft, Musterer said.

“It’s one less thief on the streets and one less restaurant to worry about,” Musterer said.

Authorities have yet to release the suspect’s identity but confirmed the arrest.

Musterer expressed his gratitude in the post, giving credit to the Campbell Police Department for their prompt intervention and commending his Sushi Confidential team for their attentiveness, swift response, and commitment to ensuring safety.

Randy Musterer and Campbell Police Department didn’t immediately respond to the request for a comment by The U.S. Sun.