Police: Woman Fleeces Man Of $300 Gift Card On First Date At Connecticut Restaurant

WESTPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Don't expect a second date after this. Police in Connecticut said an online first-date rendezvous turned to larceny.

CBS2's Lou Young reports the scene of the crime is a little eatery called Finalmente Trattoria on East Pond Road in Westport.

The alleged robber is accused of using a first date at the restaurant as an opportunity to fleece a man who met her there for dinner in August.

Katherine Stonick, 27, is accused of larceny and illegal use of a credit card. Police said she met her victim after posting on the dating website "Badoo" under a fake name.

"She's lovely. What a beautiful lady and a crook," said Claudia Besan of Westport.

Police said the man waited at the table for the check as Stonick excused herself. She went over to the manager saying she would like a $300 gift card so they could come back. Police said the manager then gave her the gift card, she pockets it, and the guy doesn't realize he's paid for.

Police said Stonick ended up coming back with a different guy the next day.

"Not only did she do it once, but twice the next day and the following day," said Westport Police Lt. David Farrell. "One of those two days was her birthday, so treating herself on him three times."

The victim was able to give police a license plate number.

The people at the restaurant picked her out of a line-up. Stonick was arrested Friday and released on $10,000 bail.

The victim's neighbors believe he got off easy.

"Could you imagine if they'd been dating six months? The $300 would've been $1,200, would've been $4,000. You never know where it could've gone," said Eileen O'Brien.

If the gift card had been for $500 or more, this would be a felony instead of a Class A misdemeanor.

Stonick, who lives in New Haven, is due back in Fairfield County court at the end of the month.