Mario Kluczek, 35, from Liverpool city centre, and his fiancée Eliann, 31, had their dream wedding in Malaga, Spain, nearly ruined after thieves allegedly stole approximately €10,000 in cash, their wedding rings, and treasured family jewellery just days before they were due to marry. The couple had arrived in the Spanish city on Saturday, June 20, excited to celebrate with family and friends who had travelled from around the world to join them. But what should have been the happiest week of their lives quickly became "a nightmare."
Burglary Discovered After Beach Trip
Speaking to the ECHO, Mario said: "We arrived on Saturday night and went straight to our Airbnb apartment. We were all happy and looking forward to our wedding. The next day we went to the beach for a few hours. When we came back, I told my fiancee to put her engagement ring back on because she always takes it off for the beach. She opened her jewellery box and it wasn't there." Initially believing the ring had been misplaced, Mario checked his backpack where he had been keeping the couple's wedding funds and rings. He said: "When I opened my backpack, there was no money. All of our wedding rings had gone. They were in a special box with our wedding date on it. They also stole a necklace my nan gave me for my communion 25 years ago. That necklace means everything to me."
Savings of 18 Months Stolen
The couple say approximately €10,000 in cash was stolen, money they had spent around 18 months saving since becoming engaged at Christmas 2024. The cash was intended to pay for their DJ, photographer, catering, venue, and transport. Mario said there were no obvious signs of forced entry when they returned to the apartment. He said: "The apartment looked exactly the same as when we left it. There was no damage to the door, nothing out of place. My fiancee thought at least her hand luggage had been left untouched, but when she turned it upside down we realised someone had cut through the padlock with a knife, taken everything inside and then put it back exactly as it had been. We didn't notice straight away."
Police Warn of Tourist-Targeting Gangs
The couple reported the incident to Spanish police, who attended the apartment before directing them to make a formal report at the main police station in Malaga. Mario said officers told them there was little chance of recovering the cash and warned that burglaries targeting tourists are common during the summer months. "They told us there are gangs who either follow tourists or check holiday apartments when people are out," he said. "We honestly don't know how someone got in. There are security codes to enter both the building and the apartment."
Wedding Goes Ahead with Borrowed Funds
With guests already arriving from around the world for the wedding, the couple said cancelling the ceremony wasn't an option. Instead, they borrowed money from family and friends to cover immediate costs. "We had to borrow money because otherwise we would have had to tell all our guests not to come," Mario said. "People had travelled from different countries and even different continents. We've had to borrow money to pay for the venue, catering, the photographer and the DJ. Without help from family and friends, we couldn't have gone ahead."
Emotional Toll and Irreplaceable Loss
Reflecting on the emotional impact, Mario said: "The photographer will probably ask us to smile. But all I can think is, should I smile or cry? I'll try to enjoy the day as much as possible, but what happened will always be at the back of my mind. You can always earn money again. But my nan's necklace can't be replaced. She's 80 years old and she gave it to me when I was a child. I've had it with me ever since. That hurts the most. I always try to stay positive and stay strong, but this has really hit me. I'm speechless."
GoFundMe Appeal Launched
Following the burglary, the couple launched a GoFundMe appeal to help cover the costs they had lost and repay the money borrowed from loved ones. On the fundraising page, they wrote: "What should have been the happiest week of our lives has turned into a nightmare. We are devastated and struggling to come to terms with what has happened during what should have been the most joyful time of our lives." Mario added: "If anyone can donate even £1 it would mean the world to us. We now have to repay the people who helped us, and every little bit makes a difference."
Booking.com Responds
A spokesperson for booking.com 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."
