# A couple booked a 14-course meal as cover to steal $1.7 million worth of wine **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 8, 2023, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861 "2023-03-08T08:07:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/22 "2023-03-08T20:54:00Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > Anyone that unpricipled would very likely be willing to do many other Very Bad Things, including to you. > > Anyone who can afford to drop six figures on a bottle of wine probably isn’t much of a saint, either. Probably true, but the wine wasn’t stolen from a Jordan Belfort type (who apparently really did drop that sort of money on wine that he was incapable of appreciating, as well as hookers and blow, which he apparently was). It was stolen from a Michelin three-star restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/23 "2023-03-08T21:21:53Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I mean, I’m not saying it should be _legal_ but if a painting goes from being in the possession of one guy who won’t let me see it, to be in the possession of a different guy who won’t let me see it, well… what do I care? If someone steals the life savings of a middle class 68 year old couple I have never and will never know, what does it matter to me? After all, apparently anything that doesn’t hurt me (or at least doesn’t hurt too many people or the wrong people - how many is “too many” and who the “wrong” people are to be defined at later date) is no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/24 "2023-03-08T21:27:42Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > If someone steals the life savings of a middle class 68 year old couple I have never and will never know, what does it matter to me? Yeah, but those people are likely to lose their house, medical coverage, and a bunch of other things that are really serious. All things that aren’t going to happen if someone’s bottle of overpriced grape-juice gets nicked. Worst outcome there is they have to drink a different bottle of expensive wine. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/25 "2023-03-08T21:30:18Z")
It’s bizarre that some people here think that stealing is perfectly Ok if it’s from rich people. (And not stealing to then give to the needy. Stealing from the rich to make other people rich.) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/26 "2023-03-08T21:31:20Z")
I don’t think anyone said it was “perfectly okay.” ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/27 "2023-03-08T21:34:16Z")
Oh excuse me. It’s “pretty much okay” then. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/28 "2023-03-08T21:39:38Z")
Thanks. Accuracy is important. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/29 "2023-03-08T21:52:07Z")
It would take a forklift and a shipping container to steal a million bucks of the wine I drink! But it’d be easy to pack, since it already comes in boxes. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/30 "2023-03-09T09:59:02Z")
heh the wine i used to drink was 2.50 a bottle and ca,e with screw caps ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/31 "2023-03-09T10:23:57Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Anyone that unpricipled would very likely be willing to do many other Very Bad Things, including to you. I feel like it’s a jump to say that just because someone stole something they’re likely to hurt someone. And there seems to be some debate about it being a Very Bad Thing. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/32 "2023-03-09T16:21:03Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > In a country whose system of laws are, at least theoretically, decided by democratic action, I’d say it’s just the opposite. It’s entirely up to us to say which crimes are greater or lesser. I said it’s not up to you or me. Maybe you can get a majority to approve laws that say that it’s okay to steal from rich people. Lacking that, it’s still not up to you or me. > [@Miller](#): > > That’s not what “Mcguffin” means. It means “it doesn’t matter what it actually is, it’s just a plot device.” That’s how I was using it. So far we have at least @Miller, @RTFirefly, and @BlankSlate who see no problem with stealing, as long as the victim is rich and/or the object is theoretically over-valued. Good to know. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/33 "2023-03-09T16:28:13Z")
I’m wondering whether the desk clerk was in on it - at least to the extent that he was told to leave the desk unattended for some lengths of time. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/34 "2023-03-09T18:41:03Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > It means “it doesn’t matter what it actually is, it’s just a plot device.” Well, that doesn’t actually make sense in the context of what you were saying, but sure. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/35 "2023-03-09T19:11:18Z")
I don’t mind, maybe it didn’t make sense as a word, but the point is it doesn’t make the tiniest bit of difference to the point. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/36 "2023-03-09T19:17:29Z")
I agree, sounds delish. Although I would want the bacon to be a separate item, not part of the ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/37 "2023-03-09T19:29:44Z")
I’m also wondering why the clerk’s card had access to the wine cellar - and how the clerk got the salad and dessert without the card.(or why the clerk had to get the food) I’ve worked places with fobs/cards and I couldn’t get far from my desk without it and it’s a little hard to believe that the clerk had to go get the food from the restaurant but the door to the kitchen wasn’t locked. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/38 "2023-03-09T19:54:53Z")
Based on the thief stealing the wrong card at first, it doesn’t sound like it was the employee’s badge or a general kitchen card that was needed, but a dedicated card for the wine cellar. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/39 "2023-03-09T19:56:20Z")
I’m working on a dramatization now: _Ocean’s 14 Course Dinner_ Stranger ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/40 "2023-03-09T20:05:15Z")
If it was a dedicated card for the wine cellar, I think it makes even less sense for the clerk to have it. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861/41 "2023-03-11T12:51:25Z")
_Wine, wine, wine Pass that bottle to me_ - Stick McGhee [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-booked-a-14-course-meal-as-cover-to-steal-1-7-million-worth-of-wine/980861.md?page=3)