Mario Kluczek, 35, and his wife Eliann, 31, were robbed of thousands of pounds in wedding cash, their rings, and a treasured family necklace from their Spanish apartment just days before their wedding. The couple, from Liverpool, had spent around 18 months saving for their dream wedding in Malaga.
Discovery of the Theft
Hours into their holiday, they returned from the beach to find precious items missing. Mario said: "We were shocked. I didn't even know what to say. We started crying and then we rang the Spanish police." The couple had arrived in Malaga on June 20, choosing the city for their wedding after several holidays there together.
The next morning, they left the apartment at around 11:30am to spend a few hours on the beach, returning at 3:30pm to prepare to meet Eliann's family. Mario first realized something was wrong when his wife couldn't find her engagement ring after taking it off for the beach. Initially believing it was misplaced, he checked the backpack containing their wedding fund—but the cash was gone, along with both wedding rings.
Items Stolen
The couple later discovered that someone had cut through a padlock on a piece of luggage with a knife, removed valuables, and carefully put everything back. Among the missing items was a necklace Mario's 80-year-old grandmother had given him for his communion 25 years ago. Mario said: "The necklace was priceless. I've had it for 25 years. I'm very close with my nan. I never took that necklace off. It was only to go to the beach. I can always make more money, but things like the engagement rings and the necklace from my nan are priceless to me."
Approximately €10,000 in cash was stolen, along with engagement and wedding rings worth more than £1,000. Mario's ring cost £850, while Eliann's cost £450. There were no signs of forced entry, and Mario noted: "It looks like someone already knew the pin code."
Police Response and Wedding Day
Spanish police attended and directed the couple to file a formal report at the city's main police station. Officers warned there was little chance of recovering the cash and noted that burglaries targeting tourists are common during summer. Despite the loss, the couple decided not to cancel the wedding, as guests were already traveling from around the world. They borrowed approximately the same amount stolen from friends and family to pay for the venue, DJ, and catering.
Mario said: "We got married last Thursday, but now we're in debt. When a photographer is asking you to smile and you're thinking about what has happened, it's very confusing. We're still having flashbacks every couple of days, because it was so much money. I'm still speechless." The couple bought cheap imitation rings for the wedding pictures.
Fundraising and Booking.com Response
The couple launched a GoFundMe appeal to help repay loved ones who stepped in to save their wedding. Writing on the page, they said they were "devastated" after what should have been "the happiest week of our lives" turned into "a nightmare." The fundraiser has raised almost £1,000 so far.
Booking.com, which the couple used to arrange the apartment, said: "The safety and security of our customers is a top priority. We are sorry to hear about this incident. As soon as we were made aware, we launched an internal review into the matter. Any suspicion of criminal activity should be reported to the local police, who are best placed to investigate. We are cooperating with their enquiries where appropriate."
