NEED TO KNOW
- A seafood-centric restaurant in a popular Disney-owned entertainment area was reportedly robbed by a man in scuba gear on Sept. 15
- Employees at Disney Springs’ Paddlefish restaurant were counting the business’ profits after closing when a bandit entered and made off with between $10,000 and $20,000 in cash
- Surveillance footage captured the individual wearing a wetsuit, goggles and gloves
A slippery bandit has allegedly made off with tens of thousands after robbing a Walt Disney World waterfront restaurant while wearing scuba gear.
The unidentified thief was seen in surveillance footage, appearing to spray a substance over a camera while wearing a wetsuit, photos obtained by NBC News showed in an article published on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
The incident occurred just after midnight on Monday, Sept. 15, as a manager and two employees were counting money in an office after Paddlefish restaurant closed for the evening, NBC News and Florida’s WFTV reported, citing the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Paddlefish is a seafood restaurant located at Disney Springs, a shopping and entertainment district in Disney World.
The suspect reportedly made off with between $10,000 and $20,000 in cash, per WFTV.
No customers were inside at the time of the robbery, the sheriff’s office said, per NBC News.
PEOPLE did not immediately receive a request for comment from Paddlefish or the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Photos also show the suspect wearing eye goggles and gloves.
The wetsuit-wearing intruder forced the Paddlefish staff members into the corner of the room and told them to close their eyes, an Orange County Deputy’s report said, per WFTV. Sources close to the investigation told the news station that employees were also tied up. Details of the report are said to be heavily redacted, per WFTV.
The staff were physically unharmed and the suspect did not brandish any weapons, WFTV added, citing a police report. Additionally, the individual left within two minutes, and the employees called 911 after freeing themselves.
The suspect, who was covered from head to toe, is described as a man about 5’10’ tall with a slim build.
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Orlando’s WKMG-TV reported that an anonymous tip to the station said the suspect escaped by swimming across the water wearing a black wetsuit, but deputies have not confirmed that detail.
“We have no comment; this is an active investigation,” Levy Restaurants, which operates the seafood-centric eatery, told WKMG-TV in a statement.
The news station reports that the individual involved could be charged with grand theft in the third degree.
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