An unidentified man being chased by security guards and police officers after he tried to steal a taxicab yesterday morning ran toward the Inner Harbor, jumped into the water and drowned despite attempts to rescue him, police said.

Security guards at the Sheraton Inner Harbor in the 300 block of S. Charles St. spotted the man, whose name was not divulged, after he had broken into a taxicab outside the hotel's front door about 11:45 a.m., police said.

The guards ran toward the man, who leapt from the cab and ran toward the Inner Harbor, about two blocks away, police said.

Police said they joined the chase as the man sprinted toward the 300 block of Light St. and then jumped into the Inner Harbor.

Police officers tossed flotation devices to the man, who was treading water, police and fire officials said, but the man did not try to grab them.

The man sank for several seconds before bobbing to the surface, the officials said.

The man submerged a second time, but he did not resurface, police said.

Firefighters with diving equipment pulled the man from the water at 12:27 p.m., said Mike Maybin, a Fire Department spokesman.

The man was pronounced dead about 15 minutes later at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.