HOUSTON -- Dinner at James Coney Island is a tradition for Donna Arevalo's family.

"I go here all the time and I've never had a problem," said Arevalo.

But another customer stopped her as she left the restaurant on Bay Area Boulevard near Diana Lane in Clear Lake on Nov. 28.

"He said he clearly saw the guy, once he swiped my card, he put it in his hand, he took a picture, put his phone up, let me sign my receipt. When I turned my back, he text-messaged it somewhere else," said Arevalo.

The company said the restaurant is the only James Coney Island in Houston that operates independently of the others.

The family that owns the business issued a statement that said, in part:

"We are unaware of the alleged incidents of internal theft but will begin our investigation immediately. We apologize for any inconvenience caused to our customers and will do whatever necessary to compensate them for their losses. The management of James Coney Island holds a zero tolerance policy for theft in any fashion."

Police confirmed they are investigating the claim.

Arevalo said she will pay in cash in the future.

"It's definitely an alert to everybody to just be very cautious because it happened right in front of my eyes and I didn't see it happen," she said