Authorities are searching for a man accused of robbing the Paddlefish restaurant at Disney Springs by swimming up to the location in scuba gear, stealing thousands of dollars, and then swimming away.
According to a report from the sheriff’s office, the robbery occurred shortly after midnight Monday, after the restaurant had closed to guests. Deputies said the suspect removed and stored his wetsuit and scuba gear before entering the manager’s office, where cash from the night was being counted and placed into a safe.
The man reportedly ordered two employees to move to the corner of the room and close their eyes. While the official report is heavily redacted, WFTV says sources familiar with the investigation reported that the suspect tied up the employees before taking between $10,000 and $20,000.
Investigators said the suspect was in and out of the restaurant in less than two minutes. The employees freed themselves and called 911. No one was injured, and deputies confirmed the man did not brandish a weapon during the robbery.
After leaving the restaurant, which is housed inside a replica steamboat, authorities believe the man put his scuba gear back on and jumped into the water to make his escape. A search of the area immediately after the incident turned up no results.
Investigators released an image appearing to show the suspect spray-painting a security camera. Employees described the man as slim, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing tight clothing and a blue beanie.
Paddlefish management directed all questions to the sheriff’s office, which confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Despite the robbery, the restaurant reopened for lunch as scheduled at noon on Monday. There were no visible increases in security, though Disney Springs typically operates under strict security protocols managed by Disney staff and sheriff’s deputies.
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