Tourists abducted, robbed at WDW'S Downtown Disney

[Tom Morrow]

Tourists abducted, robbed at WDW'S Downtown Disney




Two tourists abducted, robbed after leaving Downtown Disney (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/orl-bk-touristrobbery0610,0,5284631.story?coll= orl-home-headlines)
Couple taken at gunpoint, was left near Osceola landfill after struggle
Orlando Sentinel -FL

Two Connecticut tourists were abducted and robbed at gunpoint shortly after midnight Sunday morning after a Downtown Disney shopping trip.

According to the Orange County Sheriffs Office, a man in a black Volkswagen Jetta called out a question to the couple, who were staying at a Disney resort, as they walked through the parking lot at the entertainment-and-shopping hotspot. When they stopped to answer, the couple, Justin Stetzer, 20, and Jessica Dellacamera, 20, both of Branford, Conn., were forced into the car at gunpoint.

Deputies said that three men inside the Jetta drove the tourists to a gas station and forced Stetzer to withdraw money from an ATM. After stopping at an unknown location, the men took the couple to a remote location near an Osceola County landfill.

They forced the couple out of the car and beat them, striking Stetzer in the head with a handgun. But the two fought back against their attackers, and in the scuffle, the gun discharged. That scared the men, who panicked and fled. The men were able to leave with both the cash and the purchases the couple left behind.

According to deputies, Stetzer and Dellacamera walked to nearby Kissimmee home and called the police. They were not seriously injured.

Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez declined to say which resort the pair was staying at or how much longer they would remain in Florida. She said that Disney officials were working with the two "to take care of their immediate needs."




Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[bm2506]

That is too bad I hope they find the people responsible

[crystaltink]

I saw that on the news. How scary. Those people responsible will get theirs.

[BCC]

That's odd. The gun was fired and the robbers fled? Oh I get it now. I hope they get caught soon.

[dougeebear]

This is sad. It seems that WDW is becoming a magnet for criminal behavior. I would hate to see that happen at any resort anywhere.

Just be mindful that simply because you're at "The Happiest Place on Earth" doesn't mean that everyone around you is a good guy. Watch you purses, cameras, wallets, and children just as you would back home.

[Disneyknight467]

^remember that WDW isn't the only happiest place in the world...there's about 1...2...3... 5 Happiest Places on earth and 6 if you include Tokyo Disneysea. But still that is sad that people would do horrible things in wonderful places. Well there was that Incident at Disneyland a while back...but that was a LONG time ago.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I know most of you have never been there, so I'll tell you that WDW's Downtown Disney's parking lot is immense. It stretches for what you'd think of as about 4 long blocks and it's all 1-level outdoor parking lot. It also stretches out pretty far back. While there are security vehicles roaming around, the far corners are quite vulnerable.

But nowhere should anyone not do the simple responsible things such as locking the car when you leave or hiding of anything that would draw someone's attention into your car. Otherwise you're basically asking for it.

-- PMM :cool:

[mhendrix]

It just makes me so angry when I hear about stories like this.

I've worked in and continue to work in security because I hope I can make a difference, even stop something like this from happening.

What a shame, at WDW of all places.

[Tom Morrow]

Clues sought in tourist-area abduction



Investigators compare notes in abduction from Downtown Disney lot (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-disney1107jun11,0,6832150.story)
Orlando Sentinel - FL

Sheriff's investigators from Orange and Osceola counties this afternoon continue to compare notes in the abduction and robbery of two Connecticut tourists. Jim Solomons, an Orange County sheriff's spokesman, said there is no information as to the suspects' identities, but the two law-enforcement agencies are working together. "We are scouring for leads," Solomons said. Police are still searching for the suspects in Sunday's attack.

Shoppers at Downtown Disney on Sunday afternoon were not surprised to hear about the abduction. "Nowadays, I think it could happen anywhere," said Kathy Gallardo of Tampa, standing outside Planet Hollywood.
complete article (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-disney1107jun11,0,6832150.story)



Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ Outside of Planet Hollywood is an amazingly vulnerable area. Since its between West Side & Marketplace and every effort made to bring guests through Pleasure Island to get from one to the other, that area of parking is remarkably poorly-lit and absent of just about any official presence. But it's also where you'll find a lot of guests who choose that route with their kids to keep them out of the PI scene. I'm surprised more problems don't happen in that little area of sidewalk.

-- PMM :cool:

[Tom Morrow]

Tourist Industry Concerned After Disney Kidnapping



Tourist Industry Concerned After Disney Kidnapping (http://www.wftv.com/news/13479609/detail.html)
WFTV 9 - FL

Orlando's tourism industry is very concerned about the rise in crime. Two people from Connecticut were abducted from Disney and then robbed at gunpoint before being dropped at a landfill. The story seems almost too crazy to believe, but Orange County deputies said they are taking the abduction very seriously. Visitors coming to Disney, Orlando's number one attraction, are very concerned, as well.

Downtown Disney is known for good, clean fun. An army of security guards keeps the attraction safe. But over the weekend, that image might've have been shattered. "Yeah, it's scary, especially if it can happen here," said Tampa tourist Jay Polizzi. "If it can happen there, it can pretty much happen anywhere."

The horrifying story has visitors concerned.

"Yeah, that bothers me," said Ohio tourist Jerry Pater.

But many said they still feel safe at Disney.

"It's unfortunate that happened, but that certainly won't affect my decision to come back to Disney," said Hialeah tourist Ralph Person.

A Walt Disney spokesperson told Channel 9 the company was cooperating with the investigation. Investigators were checking to see if cameras at the ATMs captured images of the suspects.

Orange County investigators said similar crimes are rare in one of the most-policed areas of the county. In 2006, the sheriff's office said, there were just 18 aggravated assaults or batteries in sector 6, which is the Downtown Disney and resort area. There were also just four robberies. That compares to 54 assaults and 89 robberies for the year along International Drive.
complete article (http://www.wftv.com/news/13479609/detail.html)




Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[Fantasmic!kid]

I never really liked Downtown Disney.......it has always just seemed unsafe to me. But, what can WDW do: up security?

~:mickey:

[Tom Morrow]

Disney tourists drop Orange kidnap case



Disney tourists drop Orange kidnap case (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/lakebuenavista/orl-tourists1407jun14,0,1961909.story)
Orlando Sentinel - FL

The victims of a robbery and kidnapping last weekend at Downtown Disney have decided not to prosecute if the Orange County Sheriff's Office captures their abductors. "They both signed DOI's" Wednesday, sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said. DOI stands for "declination of intent," a form stating that victims decline to prosecute.

The couple, who were visiting Disney World with DellaCamera's parents, decided not to go further with the investigation after being asked to provide details for composite sketches of the robbers and to undergo voice-stress analysis, a form of lie-detector test, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Osceola County officials, meanwhile, said they are continuing to investigate what happened in their jurisdiction. "When you get down to the bottom line, we still consider them victims," Solomons said, noting that DellaCamera and Stetzer, both 20, showed signs of having been beaten.

Sheriff's detectives have video showing DellaCamera entering and leaving a CVS pharmacy in Kissimmee where money was withdrawn from an ATM. Stetzer told investigators that the robbers held his girlfriend at gunpoint in their car while he collected the money, sheriff's spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain said. The amount of money has not been disclosed.

Detectives are still looking for information on the car described as driven by the robbers, a black four-door Volkswagen Jetta with tinted windows. Anyone who may have been in the area of west U.S. Highway 192 near the CVS Pharmacy late June 9 or early June 10 is asked to call the Osceola Sheriff's Office at 407-348-2222 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (1-800-423-8477).
complete article (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/lakebuenavista/orl-tourists1407jun14,0,1961909.story)




Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[tomserwin]

Just be mindful that simply because you're at "The Happiest Place on Earth" doesn't mean that everyone around you is a good guy.

I don't mean to be "that guy" but WDW is not "The Happiest Place on Earth," Disneyland is. Walt Disney World is "The Most Magical Place on Earth" or something like that. A Disney cast member in WDW was very admant that I understood that. I think she took it personal.

[princesschloe777]

I agree. WDW is cool don't get me wrong, but I would rather be at DL anyday. Plus DL is really close knit, where WDW is to big in my personal view. DL, was the first and will always be the first in my book. It goes to show you have to always make sure you are always with the group you came up or clearly watch your back!

[HMF]

That is really horrible. Glad they are Ok.