Authorities speak out after Florida man in scuba gear reportedly robs $20k from Disney restaurant before swimming away
It's not just Captain Hook who's into high seas piracy, with authorities in Florida on the hunt for a man who reportedly swam into a Disney Springs restaurant and made off with up to $20,000 while wearing scuba gear.
While you might associate Walt Disney World with rides like Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, there's an expanded ecosystem of water parks, hotels, and adult entertainment offerings. Opened in 1975, Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village has undergone facelifts to become known as the likes of Downtown Disney, and now, Disney Springs. Containing a whole host of eateries and bars, the buzzing streets of Disney Springs have apparently attracted some unwanted attention in the form of a hostage situation and heist.
While not quite on a par with hackers using their smartphones to steal $1 billion, and thankfully not as harrowing as Kaitlyn "Amouranth" Siragusa being violently attacked for her crypto, Walt Disney World still isn't exactly the kind of place you expect to hear of a daring robbery going down.
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Despite Disney supposedly being 'the happiest place on Earth', that wasn't the case for two employees who were working the late shift at Disney Springs.
WFTV 9 reports how Orange County authorities are on the hunt for an unknown Florida man who swiped between $10,000 and $20,000 from the manager's office at the Paddlefish restaurant.
The Paddlefish is a paddle steamer riverboat replica located on Village Lake, but in the early hours of September 15, it was robbed by an unknown assailant. It's said that he swam up to the Paddlefish in scuba gear and a wetsuit before climbing aboard and taking two employees hostage as cash was being counted in the office.
Although the report is heavily redacted, sources claim the pair were told to close their eyes and were tied up as he stole the money.
The robbery was over in less than two minutes, and after he fled, the employees freed themselves to phone 911.
A police search ensued as he jumped back into the pond in his scuba gear, although no suspect has been found.
Officials have released a single picture of a man spraying a security camera with paint, while the employees described him as wearing tight clothing and a blue beanie. The official description says he's of slim build and is approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall.
Paddlefish's owners have referred questions to the sheriff's office, and despite the disturbance, the restaurant opened as usual the next day.