According to a report from WFTV 9, a man in scuba gear robbed the Paddlefish restaurant in Disney Springs on Monday night. The robbery took place in the early hours on Monday after the restaurant had closed for the evening. The report outlines a bizarre robbery that involved a wetsuit, scuba gear, and a heist that reads like a movie script. Here’s the latest.
Man In Scuba Gear Robs Disney Springs Restaurant
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a bizarre late-night robbery at Disney Springs after a man allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars from the Paddlefish restaurant before escaping in scuba gear.
According to a heavily redacted incident report via WFTV, the robbery took place just after midnight on Monday. The suspect reportedly swam up to the restaurant in scuba gear after the venue had closed to guests. He then stored his gear and entered the manager’s office, where the end-of-night cash was being counted. The robber then forced two employees to close their eyes and move to the corner of the room. WFTV sources suggest the employees may have been tied up, though that detail was redacted from the official report.
The suspect is believed to have stolen between $10,000 and $20,000 before leaving the restaurant. The heist reportedly took under two minutes. The report then says he then put back on his wetsuit and scuba gear before jumping into the water to escape. The employees freed themselves and then called 911. Despite an immediate search of the pond, the man was not found.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and investigators note that the suspect did not use a weapon during the robbery. The sheriff’s office released an image showing the man apparently spraying paint on a security camera. Witnesses described the suspect as slim, about 5’10”, wearing tight clothing, a blue beanie, and a wetsuit.
Paddlefish resumed normal operations later that same day. The sheriff’s office said that the investigation is ongoing.
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