The couple’s car was broken into as they slept (national story)
Anna and Pete(Image: Supplied)
A young couple’s idyllic Spanish getaway turned sour when their car was hit by a brazen £60,000 theft.
Anna Higginbottom, 27, and her partner Peter Lesisz, 26, found themselves stranded in Spain after their vehicle was broken in to in Bilbao, just as they were set to journey back to Scotland on the ferry from Bilbao to Portsmouth.
The pair had stayed overnight at a hostel in Bilbao on Monday (July 7), having been assured that the car park was secure and under CCTV surveillance.
However, they were shocked to find the following morning that their car had been burgled and cleared out by thieves.
“We’ve been left with only our phones and each other,” said Anna, who works as a holistic wellness coach, reports the Manchester Evening News.
“It’s a disaster. We have nothing left. We’re just completely devastated.”
Anna and Peter(Image: Supplied)
Peter, who runs Alpine Performance, lost around £55,000 worth of specialist car tuning gear, vital to his enterprise, including USB drives loaded with years of bespoke engine software files.
“Peter’s worked years to build this business,” Anna said.
“That equipment isn’t just expensive – it’s his entire livelihood. He’s one of the best in the UK at what he does.
“He has not stopped crying. I’ve never seen him like this. It’s heartbreaking.”
Anna lost about £5,000 worth of jewellery, clothing, and irreplaceable items from her late mother taken in the heist.
She said: “That’s what hurts most. The sentimental things – they’re just gone. They can’t be replaced.”
Some of Peter’s equipment which was stolen(Image: Supplied)
The theft also led to Peter’s passport being stolen, causing the couple to miss their planned ferry crossing.
Peter is now faced with a gruelling 10-hour return trip to Madrid in order to obtain a temporary passport, thanks to relatives lending him money.
In the interim, the pair have had to seek help from Spanish social services for emergency shelter.
Anna expressed her frustration, saying: “The police haven’t helped us. There’s such a language barrier.
“We’ve had to do our own investigation. One of my cards was used locally, and we even found the shop. They told us that it was a Moroccan man.
“We’re terrified that the longer this goes on, the less chance we have of seeing our stuff again.”
Determined to recover their belongings, the couple have even risked entering notorious neighbourhoods known for danger.
“Locals warned us we could be stabbed or attacked if we went looking in these areas, so we’re scared and out of options,” Anna said.
Despite their efforts, Anna stressed: “We have done everything we can, but we don’t want to put our lives at risk doing our own investigation.”
In a bid to salvage their situation, the couple has turned to the internet for assistance, setting up a GoFundMe page.
On the crowdfunding platform, Anna wrote: “We never thought we’d be in this position. Even £5 would mean the world.”
Those inclined to support Peter and Anna can find their GoFundMe page at the following link: https://gofund.me/837db8a7.