David Cetl, 26, who "hit" four Brno restaurants over the last six months, would get himself hired in high-end establishments, wait assiduously on guests, then disappear with the profits.

He took his example from an old Czech film, "Vrchní Prchni" ("Run, Headwaiter, Run!"), in which the protagonist would collect customers’ money, then take off in his Velorex motorcycle.

Thanks to the high demand for qualified waiters in Brno, he could have gone on indefinitely. Unfortunately for him, Cetl, did not think it necessary to operate under a false identity, and he was nabbed by police in a random traffic check.

The fake waiter managed to amass 100,000 Kč ($6,060) in the scam. He now faces up to eight years in jail. He said he used the proceeds to feed his passion for slot machines.

Further investigation showed that diners were not the only people Cetl had defrauded.

Last September, using a fake power of attorney, he succeeded in selling his own father's house from over his head.