A popular cafe dubbed 'Australia's Erewhon' has released CCTV footage of a string of 'fake checkout thefts' in response to a series of alleged incidents.
Common Supply, which has stores in Bondi and Sydney CBD, is known for its elaborate speciality matcha lattes and smoothies, priced between $16 to $20.
Staff claim the Instagram-famous cafe has been targeted on four consecutive days by shoppers using a sneaky tactic to avoid paying at the store's self-service kiosk, located near a large double-door fridge stocked with breakfast items and cold drinks.
The venue claims a handful of customers have taken items from the fridges and then pretended to tap their bank cards at the iPad checkout stations.
CCTV footage from April 23 showed a man in a hoodie, cap, and wireless headphones taking a juice and a breakfast pot from the well-stocked fridge.
The man is then seen walking to the self-checkout and tapping the screen as if he was paying for his order, before walking out with his items.
The following day, the store claimed two men were caught grabbing a number of drinks and performing what appeared to be the same 'fake checkout' routine. The store claimed there was a string of incidents over the Anzac Day long weekend.
'Didn't think we'd ever have to post something like this, especially in Bondi of all places,' the store captioned the CCTV footage.
A popular cafe dubbed 'Australia's Erewhon' has released CCTV footage of a string of 'fake checkout thefts' in response to a series of alleged incidents
'Maybe the front fridge looked like a self-serve situation? Or maybe these boys thought they'd cracked the ultimate life hack?'
Common Supply said it had identified the men in the videos and asked for an explanation.
Only one got back in touch, blaming his actions on a 'big night' the previous evening.
Aussies were quick to share their thoughts on the incidents.
'So sad to see this happen in our community, especially to a business you've put so much heart and work into. No one deserves that,' one person said.
Former Bachelor star and Bondi resident Thomas Malucelli also weighed in, saying it was 'disappointing behaviour'.
Common Supply said it was a small, independently owned business, and the loss of the items 'added up over time'.
'Please just pay for what you take. That's all we ask,' the company wrote.
Common Supply, which has stores in Bondi (pictured) and Sydney CBD, is known for its elaborate speciality matcha lattes and smoothies which range from $16 to $20
Common Supply owner Jacob Hill previously told news.com.au that his company was looking to be the Australian answer to Erewhon, a chain of supermarkets in Los Angeles known for its organic food and smoothies.
'It's a nice compliment, although it was never the intention. We designed Common Supply from scratch... every part of the space was designed and built by us, so the aesthetic, feels and flavour are completely our own,' he said last year.
The Daily Mail has contacted Common Supply for comment.