MIAMI – A family’s New Year’s vacation took a devastating turn after claiming their rental car was broken into and thousands of dollars worth of belongings were stolen during a stop in Wynwood.
Alexander Martinez Castro said he, his wife, and their sons had arrived in South Florida from Colombia last week, eagerly anticipating a weeklong cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
But before they could even set sail, they parked their rental car in a lot off Northeast 25th Street and Second Avenue to grab a meal.
When they returned less than 30 minutes later, the family discovered the car had been broken into and several of their bags were gone.
The stolen items included designer clothing, electronics such as laptops and iPads, jewelry, cash, bank cards and even a Rolex watch.
“We’re encouraged to travel to and invest in Miami, but it seems the city is very unsafe,” Martinez Castro said through a translator.
Adding to the heartbreak, the thieves took the family’s passports and U.S. visas, effectively canceling their cruise.
“They did not let us board the ship. We brought the police report, but they told us we couldn’t without the visas,” Martinez Castro explained.
Now stuck in Miami, the family is pleading for the return of their travel documents.
“No one told us this was happening in Miami or that crime was this bad,” Martinez Castro said.
The family hopes someone will find it in their heart to return the stolen passports and visas, allowing them to salvage what’s left of their trip.
Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.