Florida man arrested for grand theft of motor vehicle following break in at EPCOT theme park on July 21
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: A Florida man was recently arrested, following a series of actions at the EPCOT theme park. The incident involves the alleged snatching of car keys from an unattended stroller, followed by a subsequent break-in into a victim's KIA car within the park's parking lot.
The accused individual, identified as Ahmed Snina, is facing a serious charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle while reportedly wearing a mask. This second-degree felony charge has been confirmed by the Orange Circuit Court. Authorities have cautioned that this occurrence might not be an isolated event.
The incident occurred on July 21 and has sparked concerns of potential links to other thefts reported at Disney's Animal Kingdom and EPCOT. According to details outlined in the arrest report, law enforcement officials are currently investigating these potential connections.
Who is Ahmed Snina?
Ahmed Snina is a 24-year-old tour guide in Walt Disney Orlando Tours. He was arrested for breaking into a car in EPCOT's parking lot. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is leading this ongoing investigation to gather more information surrounding the case.
Snina's arrest came about on July 21 as authorities spotted something unusual on video surveillance. The footage showed him taking a baby stroller that was parked in the France pavilion, a spot where many people leave their strollers before heading off to enjoy Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.
'[He] began to rummage through the vehicle'
"Snina took various items from the stroller to include keys to a Gray KIA Sportage," a deputy wrote in the arrest report, per WDWNT. "I further observed Snina on surveillance video walking through the Epcot Center parking lot, where he located the KIA parked in the ‘CRUSH’ section of the lot."
"Snina opened the driver side door, started the engine, and moved the vehicle to a different part of the parking lot. He parked the vehicle in a new spot that was not visible from where it was previously parked and began to rummage through the vehicle."
"When he was finished, he shut the engine and left the ignition key on the driver seat. Snina was then observed walking through the Epcot parking lot to his vehicle, a gray Volkswagen Jetta," finished the deputy.
The arrest report doesn't provide information about any other items that Snina might have taken from the car and the stroller. Reportedly, instead of leaving the premises, Snina decided to head to Disney's Hollywood Studios after the initial incident.
His intention was to enter the park, but his actions led to his capture by the authorities. At the entrance of the park, Disney Security intervened and subsequently contacted the Orange County Sheriff's Office to handle the situation.
The rightful owner of both the stroller and the KIA car was willing to press charges against Snina and serve as a witness during legal proceedings. Court records have outlined the conditions of Snina's release before his trial, stipulating that he is prohibited from returning to Walt Disney World.
According to available court records, Snina is being represented by the public defender's office in this matter. The case continues to be under investigation by relevant authorities.