Only in Florida could deputies be on the hunt for a scuba diver wanted not for breaking a record dive, but for allegedly robbing a restaurant at Disney World. And not just any restaurant â Paddlefish. Yes, the one shaped like a giant steamboat floating right on the water. You canât make this up.
The Orange County Sheriffâs Office says the suspect strolled into Paddlefish just after midnight on Monday, fully decked out in black scuba gear, goggles, and bright blue rubber gloves. Instead of asking for a table with a waterfront view, investigators say he demanded cash â somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000 â while two employees were in the middle of depositing the nightâs earnings into a safe.
âGet down,â he allegedly told them. âClose your eyes.â No weapon was shown, no threat of one either. Just a man in scuba gear, turning a late-night deposit into a crime scene.
According to FOX 35 Orlando, one woman later told deputies she feared for her life. And honestly, who wouldnât? If a guy in a wetsuit pops up in your restaurant at midnight barking orders, youâre not thinking about whether heâs armed. Youâre just trying to make it out alive.
But hereâs where the story takes a turn from scary to almost slapstick. Reports say the suspect may have made his getaway by leaping into the very water that Paddlefish sits on. Thatâs right â he may have literally paddled away from Paddlefish. If youâre shaking your head, youâre not alone. Even the name of the restaurant seems to be in on the joke.
Security footage captured the bizarre outfit â full scuba suit, goggles, gloves â and investigators are now hoping someone recognizes him. He didnât have a harpoon, snorkel, or air tank, but the look was enough to make him unforgettable.
The restaurant, known for its â360-degree waterfront views,â is a popular Disney Springs destination, but it isnât actually owned by Disney. Levy Restaurants, the group behind Paddlefish, declined to comment. A Disney spokesperson pointed all questions to the sheriffâs office, which hasnât offered more details on whether the suspect truly dove into the lagoon or just slipped away through more traditional means.
Still, the thought of a scuba-clad thief diving into the waters of Disney Springs after pocketing a bag of cash is the kind of scene youâd expect in a cartoon â not in a police blotter.
And yet, here we are.
No injuries were reported, no one was physically harmed, but the cash is gone and the suspect is still on the run. Deputies are asking for tips as the investigation continues.
So if youâre in central Florida and you happen to see someone wandering around in flippers, maybe carrying an unusually heavy dive bag, the sheriffâs office would probably like a call. Because as funny as the disguise sounds, walking off with $20,000 is no joke.
Sometimes crime in Florida reads like satire. But when the headline is âScuba Suit Burglar Robs Paddlefish Restaurant at Disney World,â satire doesnât stand a chance.