Spitalfields’ Galvin La Chapelle, which also holds a Michelin star, says security footage captured earlier this month appears to show the same woman making off with £800 worth of meat.
The modus operandi is the same in both incidents, with the thief targeting early-morning deliveries of high-value produce that are often left outside restaurants.
The woman has been dubbed both the ‘langoustine lady’ and the ‘fine dining bandit’ in a story that has taken social media by storm, with many commenters criticising her actions - especially in the context of the tough economic climate and restaurants approaching their busiest and potentially most lucrative trading period.
The thefts do not appear to be opportunistic, and the perpetrator seems to have a degree of knowledge about high-quality produce.
In the case of Galvin La Chapelle, the thief specifically targeted the most expensive cuts.
“The produce taken from us wasn’t everyday groceries - it was high-quality, premium meat, and for Elystan Street it was langoustines,” says Galvin La Chapelle owner Chris Galvin.
“These are items that simply don’t end up in someone’s home kitchen, which raises serious concerns that this theft may be feeding into other restaurants.
“As an industry already under immense pressure, it’s disheartening to face targeted behaviour like this, but we hope shining a light on it helps protect other venues from becoming victims.”