Ep 3. Party Monster

In Mystery Diners season 3 episode 3, titled "Party Monster," a restaurant owner in California suspects that one of his managers may be stealing from the cash register and giving away free drinks to his friends. The owner decides to contact Charles Stiles and his team of Mystery Diners to investigate the matter.

To start the investigation, Charles sends in two undercover Mystery Diners to the restaurant during a busy Saturday night. One of them poses as a waiter, while the other acts as a customer. They observe the manager's behavior and interactions with the staff and customers, taking notes on any suspicious activities.

As the night progresses, the Mystery Diners notice that the manager is giving away multiple rounds of drinks to a group of rowdy customers. One of the customers even brings in his own bottle of liquor and pours it into his drink, without the manager objecting. The Mystery Diners also witness the manager taking money from the cash register and stuffing it into his pocket.

After the Mystery Diners report their findings to Charles, he decides to conduct a second sting operation, this time during a private party hosted by the same manager. The owner and Charles dress up as waiters and join the party, while the rest of the Mystery Diners monitor the event through hidden cameras.

During the party, the Mystery Diners observe the manager giving away free drinks and pocketing cash from the paying customers. They also catch him stealing bottles of expensive wine from the restaurant's collection and sneaking it out of the party.

When the party ends and the guests leave, Charles confronts the manager with the evidence and gives him a chance to explain himself. After denying any wrongdoing at first, the manager eventually admits to stealing from the restaurant and giving away free drinks to his friends.

In the end, the owner terminates the manager's employment and thanks Charles and his team for their help. The owner also implements new policies and procedures to prevent similar situations from happening in the future.

Overall, "Party Monster" is an exciting and suspenseful episode of Mystery Diners, featuring a classic case of employee theft and dishonesty. The investigation is well-executed, and the hidden camera footage adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story. Fans of the show and anyone interested in restaurant management will find this episode to be particularly engaging.