Texas pizzeria’s viral post about tip-stealing, hat-leaving teens has surprise result

A Texas pizzeria whose tip jar money was stolen by a group of teenagers thought of a creative way to make back the pilfered cash — and in the process found another victim of the brazen crew.

Employees of Stone Oven Pizza in Wichita Falls, Texas, posted about the harrowing situation on Facebook, explaining that the teenaged thieves left behind a cowboy hat, which the workers decided to auction off in order to make back the stolen tips.

“Last night, our crew ran into an incident where some teenagers stole the tips out of the tip jar… However, luckily enough, they left this hat… We’re not a big fan of hats around here, however, we know the beautiful community of Wichita Falls is, and we would like to open up an auction,” the post said.

“The highest bidder by Tuesday afternoon will win the prize of this authentic cowboy jicama-giga! All proceeds will be divided evenly between the three team members that lost out on Tips last night! And balance will be restored to the Multiverse!”

The restaurant then updated their Facebook followers on Dec. 28, saying that the viral post had led them to the owner of the tan-hued Justin Bent Rail cowboy hat, whose truck was broken into by the same sticky-fingered teens.

“What this attention also did was allow us to find the original owner of the hat… not the teenager that dropped it, but the gentleman whose truck was broken into that those kids had stolen it from,” the update explained.

“It was the team members themselves that decided this man’s head was indeed looking cold… we will be returning the property to its’ rightful owner.”

Although the hat could no longer be auctioned, the eatery still took care of the staff that was affected by the crime.

“Do not worry the employees have been given $50 bonuses for altruism and compassion. Not a bad result compared to the $20 that punk kid ran off with,” it said, with a laughing emoji.

Micheal Jones, the owner of the hat, took to Facebook to express his gratitude.

“Hate how all this went down, but found my hat that [was] stolen out of my truck… and it made the Today show,” he wrote.

“Great community involvement, and everyone chipping in to make sure the workers were taken care!”