Yerba Buena Loses its Signage, Head Lamps, Pepper Grinders

Welcome to Eater's latest feature, Shit People Steal, in which we ask restaurateurs what items in their restaurant have been (or are frequently) stolen.

Angel Deleon, one of the General Managers at Yerba Buena on Avenue A explains what's been pinched from the restaurant over the years:

1) At Yerba Buena Ave A we have a list of General Rules hanging in all of our bathrooms. Apparently they are one of the hottest items because frames have been broken and signs stolen—people even take the signs with our frames! It was so popular that we actually put on the sign itself “Copy available at front desk,” because we are more than happy to give our guests this memento to take home, but people still stole them!

2) We had purchased these reading lights for our customers so they can read the menus, and they were just flying out the door—still on their heads! Angel Deleon, one of the General Managers said, I remember one day we are saying goodbye to a large Bachelorette party and as I'm standing outside thanking them I noticed four women with the lights on their heads. I jokingly said “aaaah so there goes my light,” and a very intoxicated fun happy woman... replies smiling.. “That's right I took these and you can't do nothing about” I just smiled and said “Enjoy!”

3) We have a very old fashion wooden Pepper grinder displayed and as huge as it is, on the busiest nights, somehow it makes it out the door! To this day we think it's the same person coming back for it. Luckily, it is located in an area of the restaurant where we all can keep an eye on it!