🇺🇸 Lake Buena Vista · US · 15 Sep 2025
$20,000 Heist at Disney Springs: Masked Bandit in Swim Goggles Robs Paddlefish Restaurant and Swims Away
In one of the most unusual crimes in the history of Walt Disney World, an intruder wearing swim goggles and a mask carried out an audacious heist at Paddlefish, a prominent waterfront restaurant in Disney Springs. According to police audio and newly released 911 calls, the suspect managed to steal approximately $20,000 from the establishment before making a daring escape into the surrounding waters.
Terror at Paddlefish
The incident unfolded during the late hours when the suspect, described by witnesses as wearing a mask and swim goggles, managed to slip into the restaurant. Once inside, the intruder confronted staff members, ordering them to the ground. In a chilling detail revealed by emergency calls, the employees were forced to lie on the floor and were covered with large trash bags to prevent them from seeing or tracking the suspect's movements.
The Escape and Investigation
After securing $20,000 from the restaurant's safe, the suspect made a prompt exit. Leveraging the restaurant's unique waterfront location, the robber dove directly into the lake and swam away, disappearing into the night. Responding deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Office searched the area, utilizing water patrols, but were unable to locate the diver.
Authorities have released police dispatch audio and 911 transcripts in hopes that members of the public can help identify the suspect. The investigation remains active, with security protocols around the Disney Springs waterfront currently under review to prevent similar aquatic breaches.
Sources : independent · screencrush · clickorlando · vice · fox35orlando · people · wftv · fox10phoenix
