ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An hours-long search for a car burglar who ran into a lake was suspended Friday, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
Someone called 911 shortly before 1:45 a.m. to report that a car was being burglarized at the Hawthorne Groves apartments at Good Homes and Old Winter Garden roads, Orange County Deputy Ingrid Tejada-Monforte said.
Deputies said they arrested an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, but a third person ran to a nearby Lowe's store on West Colonial Drive.
The burglar hid in a shed in the store's parking lot before scaling a fence and running into Lake Sherwood, Tejada-Monforte said.
[ Photos: Deputies search Orange County lake for car burglar ]
"It was pretty dark early this morning, and it seemed like he was swimming," Tejada-Monforte said. "He seemed to be in distress. It appears to be that he was in distress."
Investigators said they used a helicopter, three airboats, a raft and two divers to search for the man, of whom they had lost sight.
Deputies said there has been a recent spike in vehicle burglaries in the area.
The incident remains under investigation.
No other details were given.