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There are a number of factors that criminals take into consideration when orchestrating a robbery. That includes having a viable escape plan, and one man who stole thousands of dollars from a restaurant in Florida came up with a fairly unusual one that involved scuba diving away from the scene in the dead of night.
The theme parks, resorts, and cruise lines that comprise the “Experiences” section of Disney’s business portfolio generated over $34 billion in revenue in 2024. It’s unclear exactly how much of that total can be credited to the company’s flagship compound in Florida, but anyone who’s stomached the prices you’re subjected to if you make the trek is very aware there’s plenty of money to go around in the area.
Disney World may be the main attraction in the area, but there are plenty of other businesses that reap the benefits of being in close proximity to The Most Magical Place on Earth. That includes Paddlefish, a floating restaurant that’s docked in the heart of Disney Springs that was recently at the center of a robbery that sparked a hunt for a man who staged an unconventional getaway.
Police are looking for a man who robbed a restaurant near Disney World before escaping by scuba diving
According to WFTV, Paddlefish had wrapped up dinner service on Sunday night when two employees who were counting the money that had been collected over the course of the day in the manager’s office were caught off guard by a man who suddenly appeared.
The outlet obtained a “heavily redacted” police report that asserts the man used scuba gear to swim to the restaurant and used spray paint to cover up security cameras before stashing his equipment. He reportedly tied up the two employees before gathering between $10,000 and $20,000 in cash and suiting back up to scuba dive away from the boat he was only on for a few minutes.
The employees, who were unharmed during the incident that unfolded shortly after midnight, were able to untie themselves and called 911 to report the crime. Police combed nearby waterways in search of the suspect, but they were unable to track him down.
A glance at the map of the area shows there are a number of different routes the robber could have taken to get away in the wake of the robbery.
If you’re curious, there are definitely more than a few alligators in those waters, although that was presumably a risk the man was willing to take.